Prosecution wants father of Belgrade mass school shooter jailed for 12 years

Vladimir K. is the father of the boy K.K., who committed mass murder at the Vladislav Ribnikar Elementary School in Belgrade.

During his address, Stefanovic presented more details about the course of the proceedings.

"On behalf of Higher Public Prosecution, I want to thank all the state authorities that were involved in the investigation, as well as my team that was dedicated and worked day and night on this case so that we have an indictment that is written on 267 pages," said Stefanovic.

He pointed out that the case itself is specific.

"I want the public to know that we conducted an extensive investigation into the circumstances in which a 13-year-old child that cannot be held criminally responsible committed the most serious crime in the history of this country. The investigation was conducted by two public prosecutors. On this occasion, I want to praise their dedication," he added.

Today, after a little more than five months of extensive investigation, they filed an indictment against Vladimir Kecmanovic.

"He is accused of a serious offense against public safety. There is suspicion that in the period of one year before the tragedy, he was training his son to handle air and firearms and the associated ammunition, enabled him to shoot at targets in the form of concentric circles and silhouettes of people, taught him to reload the guns and how to stand and breathe when using weapons," said Stefanovic.

He added that Kecmanovic kept the weapons with six frames and ammunition in two plastic suitcases for transporting weapons, instead of in a metal safe with a key.

"One weapon and the frame had a padlock and a key, and the other one was without a padlock and had ammunition in it. He allowed the child to get to two pistols that he had previously trained him to shoot from at the shooting club. The defendant's son came into possession of the weapons on May 1, 2023, when he loaded six frames with a total of 92 bullets. He put them in his backpack on May 3 and took them to school. He first shot the security guard, then two schoolgirls at the duty desk and one who was next to a piano," the prosecutor said.

K.K. then went to the history cabinet and fired 45 bullets. There he killed six more children and wounded five and the history teacher.

"The Higher Public Prosecution is also charging the boy's mother, Miljana Kecmanovic, with the criminal offense of illegal production, trafficking, possession and carrying of weapons and explosive substances. She was charged with unauthorized possession of ammunition, given that during the investigation, her DNA was found on one of the bullets - on a shell casing in the history cabinet. The president of the shooting club, Ratko I., and the instructor at the club, Nemanja M., are accused of making false statements," he added.

As he explained, Ratko I. said that he did not see the boy shoot, that he only once saw the boy, via video surveillance, running to his father who was shooting and that he personally ordered the instructor to take the child outside. He also said that he never met K.K. or was on the firing line with him, but such a statement is contrary to the evidence that has been collected.

"The defendant Nemanja M. also falsely claimed that he did not know whether Vladimir Kecmanovic had his son shoot on his own because he did not see it, and that if he had, he said would have certainly have sanctioned such behavior. He also said that he was not aware that Kecmanovic came to shoot with someone, which also contradicts the evidence," Stefanovic said.

The indictment has been forwarded to the court to decide on, and the prosecution requested that Kecmanovic's detention be extended, as well as that he be sentenced to a maximum of 12 years in prison. It was proposed that Miljana Kecmanovic be sentenced to two years and six months in prison, and the president of the shooting club and the instructor to three years each.

(Telegraf.rs)