The High Court in Belgrade issued a verdict ordering Vladimir, Miljana and their son Kosta Kecmanović, who committed mass murder on May 3, 2023, as well as the “Vladislav Ribnikar” Elementary School, to pay a total of nearly 780,000 KM to the Dukić family, whose daughter was killed that day.
The judgment states that the defendants – Kosta Kecmanović, Miljana Kecmanović, Vladimir Kecmanović and Vladislav Ribnikar Elementary School – are obliged to pay 10 million dinars each to the plaintiffs as compensation for non-material damages for the mental pain suffered due to the death of a close family member. The amount should be paid to Dukić D., Paunović B. and minors DD and MD
They are also obliged to pay 1,721,000 dinars each in the name of non-material damages for the fear suffered.
On the other hand, the court rejected the claims in which it was requested that the Republic of Serbia – the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development and the Ministry of Internal Affairs – be obliged to pay the plaintiffs compensation of 10 million dinars each for mental pain, as well as 1,721,000 dinars for the fear suffered.
Request denied
The request that all the defendants, including Kosta, Miljana and Vladimir Kecmanović, the “Vladislav Ribnikar” Elementary School, and the aforementioned ministries, jointly and severally pay the plaintiffs five million dinars in the name of mental pain due to reduced life activities was also rejected.
In the explanation of the verdict, it was stated that Kosta Kecmanović is responsible for the damage suffered by the prosecutors, because on May 3, 2023, he killed AD, the daughter and sister of members of the Dukić family. According to the verdict, the responsibility of his parents, Vladimir and Miljana, stems from “wrong upbringing, bad examples and evil habits” that they passed on to their son.
During the trial, it was established that Kosta used a firearm owned by his father Vladimir, who had previously taken him to shooting exercises, and that his mother Miljana was aware of it, but did not react or oppose it.
Necessary measures were not taken
As for the school, the court concluded that the employees in the period leading up to the tragedy failed to act in accordance with professional standards of care – they did not take the necessary measures when problems were noticed in Kosta’s behavior and his mental state.
The court, however, rejected the request for damages in relation to the state of Serbia and its ministries, stating that the existence of illegal or irregular work within the scope of official duties that would have led to the tragedy was not proven.
The verdict stated that the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development acted in full accordance with the law and that there were no established irregularities that would have had an impact on the tragic outcome. Likewise, no shortcomings were found in the work of the Ministry of Internal Affairs either, since Vladimir Kecmanović met all the legal requirements for possessing weapons.
Acting in accordance with the law
The court concluded that the Ministry of Internal Affairs acted in accordance with the law even on the day of the mass murder.
This judgment is of first instance and it is allowed to appeal to the Court of Appeal in Belgrade, it says Avaz.
