Christmas in Merošina turned into a nightmare! Filip M., a 27-year-old man from Gradište, Merošina municipality, unleashed a bloody rampage that the village will never forget. On the night of January 7th, without any provocation, this deranged neighbor first struck Srđan L. with an axe as he opened the door, then mutilated his father, 78-year-old Vlastimir L., with a scythe. Tragically, Vlastimir succumbed to his injuries in early February. Srđan survived but was on a ventilator for a month fighting for his life. His mother, V.L. (76), suffered minor injuries after Filip bit her hand and attacked her with the scythe.
Shockingly, Filip M. had been living in Germany for about ten years, housed in a psychiatric facility in Berlin, from which he escaped shortly before arriving in Gradište. His father did not complete his therapy, and his grandfather refused to take him in. Filip appeared at the doorstep on January 5th, silent and staring at a single point, before the bloody massacre unfolded.
The Higher Court in Prokuplje, after psychiatric evaluation, ruled that Filip M. must undergo compulsory psychiatric treatment in a closed institution, as it was determined he was legally insane at the time of the crime due to mental illness. Instead of life imprisonment, he will be treated for his mind, while the victims’ family mourns and seeks justice.
This horrific crime reminds us how crucial it is to monitor and properly treat the mentally ill, as the consequences can be catastrophic. Neighbors in Merošina remain in shock, and the village wonders how such a thing could happen in a peaceful area. Did the system fail? Has justice been served? Drop your thoughts—maybe your voice can spark change!
