A 14-year-old boy who killed 9 youngsters and a safety guard in a mass taking pictures at a college within the Serbian capital Belgrade final yr gave proof at his dad and mom’ closed-door trial.
The boy has been held in a psychological hospital for the reason that assault in Could 2023 and can’t stand trial as a result of he’s underneath the age of prison accountability.
His dad and mom went on trial earlier this yr and have been charged with “acts critically endangering public security” by failing to safe weapons and ammunition correctly. They deny the accusations.
The boy, recognized as KK, was delivered to court docket by a particular escort and was leaving the psychological hospital for the primary time for the reason that assault.
He was questioned as a witness by judges, prosecutors and protection attorneys for the households of the lifeless and injured. He additionally answered questions from the mom of a murdered baby.
Dad and mom of the murdered baby attended the listening to hoping to uncover a motive for the boy’s mass taking pictures at Vladislav Ribnikal Elementary College.
When KK was 13, he went to highschool with a handgun and shot different youngsters. Eight of the 9 youngsters he murdered have been women.
Lower than 48 hours later, Serbia was plunged into additional grief when eight extra individuals have been shot lifeless by a 21-year-old man in a village exterior the capital.
Prosecutors warned Serbian media forward of Tuesday’s listening to to not leak any particulars of the boy’s testimony inside a particular chamber of the Belgrade Excessive Court docket. Nevertheless, many dad and mom within the courtroom left in tears afterwards.
“At this time was probably the most painful trials I’ve witnessed in my profession,” stated Ognen Bozovic, a lawyer representing the households of the murdered youngsters.
He instructed reporters exterior court docket that many of the questions the boy was requested have been aimed toward figuring out a motive behind the taking pictures. “I believe his testimony at the moment will assist get a conviction,” he stated.
KK’s father, Vladimir Kecmanovic, has been detained and can also be accused of educating the boy how one can shoot however failing to maintain the weapon at dwelling. His mom stays free on bail.
The household’s legal professional instructed reporters afterward that the boy had lived a traditional life earlier than the taking pictures and that no court docket continuing may decide what led to his assault.
