In a recent closed-door trial, a 14-year-old boy, who is associated with the tragic mass shooting at a school in Belgrade last year, provided testimony against his parents. The incident, which occurred in May 2023, resulted in the loss of nine young lives along with a security guard. Due to his age, the boy has been held in a psychiatric facility and cannot face trial, as he falls below the legal age for criminal responsibility.

The boy’s parents are currently on trial for a “serious act against general safety,” stemming from their failure to properly secure firearms and ammunition in their home. They maintain their innocence. Identified only by the initials KK, the boy was brought to the court for the first time since the tragic event, stepping out of the psychiatric facility.

During the proceedings, he faced questioning from the judge, prosecutor, defense attorneys, and lawyers representing the victims’ families. The mother of one of the deceased children also had the chance to pose questions to him. Parents of the victims were present, hoping to gain insight into the motivations behind the shocking attack at Vladislav Ribnikar Primary School.

At just 13 years old, KK had taken a handgun to school and tragically opened fire on his classmates, with eight of the nine children he killed being girls. The nation’s grief intensified within 48 hours of this event, when another shooting nearby resulted in the deaths of eight more individuals, carried out by a 21-year-old man.

Ahead of the hearing, public prosecutors urged Serbian media to refrain from reporting any details about the boy’s testimony in the specially designated courtroom at Belgrade’s High Court. Yet, following the emotionally charged session, many parents left the courtroom in tears.

Ognen Bozovic, an attorney representing the victims’ families, described the trial as one of the most heart-wrenching he has encountered in his career. He emphasized that the focus of the boy’s testimony was to understand the motive behind the massacre, believing that this insight could lead to securing convictions against his parents.

KK’s father, Vladimir Kecmanovic, remains in custody, facing accusations of training his son in shooting while failing to secure the firearms. In contrast, his mother is currently out on bail.

The family’s attorney informed reporters that prior to the shooting, the boy appeared to lead a typical life, suggesting that no legal proceedings could definitively uncover the motives behind his horrific actions.