Kecmanović and "Ribnikar" must pay millions to the parents of those killed: High Court announced the verdict

By it, the defendants are obliged to jointly and severally pay certain sums of money in the name of compensation for non-material damages for mental pain suffered due to the death of a close person.

The court ordered that the parents of the murdered children Miljana Martinović, Zoran Martinović, Ivan Božović, Ninela Radičević, Bojan Asović, Marija Asović, Andjelko Aćimović, Natalija Aćimović, Milanka Negić, Dragan Kobiljski, Nina Kobiljski, Dragana Andjelković, Branko Andjelković be paid RSD 12,000,000 each.

To the parents that had only one child that was killed, Miloš Čikić, Suzana Stanković Čikić and Slobodan Negić must be paid RSD 13,000,000.00 each.

The father and mother of the murdered guard Dragan Vlahović, Živorad Vlahović and Kosa Vlahović, will be paid RSD 11,000,000.00 each.

To the brothers and sisters of the murdered children Lena Martinović, Natalija Martinović, minors A.B., B.A., then Marija Aćimović, minors M.K., Mina Andjelković and minors M.A. will pay RSD 10,500,000 each, and to the minor M.P. the amount of RSD 8,000,000.00,

These amounts with statutory default interest starting from 12/30/2024 until payment, they should be paid within 15 days of receiving the copy of the verdict, under threat of execution.

As the plaintiffs requested higher amounts of compensation for non-material damage, the remaining part of the claim was rejected on this basis as unfounded up to the amount requested.

The court also ordered that the defendants Kosta, Miljana Kecmanović, Vladimir Kecmanović and the "Vladislav Ribnikar" Model Elementary School jointly and severally pay certain amounts to the plaintiffs in the name of non-material damages for the fear suffered.

Prosecutors Miljana Martinović, Zoran Martinović, Ivan Božović, Ninela Radičević, Bojan Asović, Marija Asović, Andjelko Aćimović, Natalija Aćimović, Milanka Negić, Dragan Kobiljski, Nina Kobiljski, Dragana Andjelković, Branko Andjelković, Miloš Čikić, Suzana Stanković Čikić, Slobodan Negić, Lena Martinović, Natalija Martinović, minors A.B. B.A., Marija Aćimović, minors M.K., Mina Andjelković and minors M.A. the amount of RSD 1,750,000.00 each, the amount of RSD 500,000.00 to the plaintiff Živorad Vlahović and the amount of RSD 600,000.00 to the plaintiff Kosa Vlahović.

That money will also be paid out with statutory default interest starting from 12/30/2024 until payment, within 15 days from the receipt of the transcript of the judgment, under the threat of execution, while in the remaining part on this basis, the said claim was rejected as unfounded up to the amount requested.

According to this judgment, the defendants are also obliged to reimburse the plaintiffs jointly and severally for the costs of the proceedings with statutory default interest starting from the day the condition for enforcement occurs, within 15 days from the day of receipt of the transcript of the judgment, under threat of enforcement.

In the explanation of the verdict, it is stated, among other things, that the defendant minor Kosta is responsible for the damage suffered by the plaintiffs, bearing in mind that at the time of undertaking the harmful actions he was capable of reasoning, while the defendants Vladimir Kecmanović and Miljana Kecmanović are responsible, considering that during the proceedings it was established that the damage was caused by the minor's bad upbringing, bad examples and evil habits given to him by his parents.

When it comes to the existence of responsibility on the part of the fourth defendant "Vladislav Ribnikar" elementary school for the non-material damage suffered by the plaintiffs, the court is of the opinion that in this particular case such responsibility exists. Namely, during the evidence procedure, it was established that in the period preceding the event of May 3, 2023, in the actions of the employees of the school, there were oversights which, by their legal nature, represent a harmful act of inaction, which consists in not taking those actions which the standard of due professional care in the specific case required.

Also, it was determined that "Vladislav Ribnikar" Elementary School is liable on the basis of the responsibility of a legal entity for the damage caused by its body, in connection with the illegal organization of students on duty, which was attributed to the responsibility of the then director of this Elementary School, as an external authority.

An appeal against this verdict is allowed to the Court of Appeal in Belgrade within 15 days from the day of its receipt.