A 13-year-old boy, who tragically took the lives of nine pupils and a school guard in a mass shooting at a Belgrade school last year, testified at his parents’ trial on Tuesday. This marked his first public appearance outside a psychiatric institution since the incident occurred on May 3, 2023, when he used his father’s gun to commit the killings.
Due to his age, the boy cannot be prosecuted; however, his parents are facing serious public safety charges. The trial was held behind closed doors, but Ognjen Bozovic, a legal representative for the victims’ families, described it as one of the most harrowing experiences he has ever encountered in his career. He noted, “It was extremely difficult,” highlighting the emotional weight of the proceedings.
The defendants’ lawyer, Irina Borovic, suggested that the motives behind the crime might never be fully understood. “Those reasons are clearly somewhere deep in the soul of the boy who, unfortunately, carried all of this out,” she stated.
Parents of the victims were present during the testimony, with many leaving the court in tears and unable to speak to the media. The prosecutor’s office is closely monitoring media coverage to prevent any leaks regarding the minor’s testimony.
The boy’s father is currently in custody, charged with training him to handle firearms and for failing to store the weapons and ammunition safely. It was revealed that the boy had hidden a handgun and 92 bullets in his backpack before the shooting. Meanwhile, his mother faces indictment after DNA evidence linked her to one of the bullets, though she remains free.
This tragic event followed another shooting less than 48 hours later, where a 21-year-old armed with an automatic rifle killed eight people in a separate incident about 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of Belgrade. Mass shootings are rare in Serbia, despite the country having high levels of gun ownership. In response to the violence, the Serbian government has declared May 3 and May 4 as Days of Remembrance for the victims of mass shootings.
Sources By Agencies
