After three hours of deliberation today, an Oktibbeha County jury sentenced 29-year-old Bobby Batiste to death for the capital murder of his rommate last year at 21 Apartments.
The jury of eight men and four women deliberated for three hours before returning its decision. Family members of victim Andreas Galanis were in tears after Circuit Court Clerk Angie McGinniss announced Batiste’s sentence.
“I finally have closure over what happened to Andreas,” said Matthew Sfirakis, a close family friend who said he was “like a brother” to Galanis. “We’ve just got to move on. We’ll move on one step at a time. He’s in a better place. He’s an angel. He’s looking down on us.”
“He didn’t deserve what happened to him,” Sfirakis added.
Sfirakis comforted Galanis’ sister, Christina, and mother, Katerina, throughout the week-long trial. Christina Galanis, 26, was emotional after the sentence was read, as well, and credited the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department for arresting Batiste the day of the killing, and for all their subsequent work on the case.
“I want to thank the sheriff’s department for doing such a great job and treating us like family,” Christina Galanis said.
District Attorney Forrest Allgood admitted the trial took an emotional toll on all involved.
“People have the wrong notion about these things,” Allgood said. “It’s very taxing emotionally. It’s very taxing mentally. I meant what I said in my closing argument. This isn’t something you do lightly. I believe very passionately in the death penalty. I think it’s appropriate; I think it’s a deterrent ...”
Katerina Galanis declined to comment, but spoke earlier in the day on the witness stand of the tremendous loss she has faced.
“My life is, somehow, it’s half gone,” she said. “Andreas was our protector. He was the man of the house. He was the one who was always giving us advice, and he took it upon himself to do things in our house and protect our house.”
Becoming cold
Katerina Galanis later went on to say how even her personality has changed since the death of her son.
“I’m a cold-blooded person,” she said. “I cannot say I love anybody anymore.”
Batiste’s mother, Annie, spoke earlier in the day on the witness stand, but couldn’t be reached for comment after the sentence was read in court. On the stand, she called Bobby Batiste a “sweet, kind-hearted person.”
The defense called nine witnesses to speak on Batiste’s behalf before sentencing. Among the group were former employers, school teachers, coaches and others.
Batiste growing up
All spoke of Batiste as a kind young man who would never hurt anybody. Batiste had to wipe tears from his eyes while his mother was on the witness stand and defense attorney Jim Lappan showed the courtroom photos of his client during different phases of his life, including infancy, his elementary school years and, lastly, as a teenager.
But Allgood emphasized during questioning that most of the witnesses interacted regularly with Batiste as a teenager, but he will turn 30 in December. Allgood also said Batiste “deceived” a lot of people in his life into thinking he was a nice person.
Batiste pleaded guilty in 2004 to credit-card fraud in Kemper County and was accused in his trial this week of spending more than $4,500 of Galanis’ money on a debit card without Galanis’ knowledge prior to killing him. Batiste also had two girlfriends when he was arrested March 7, 2008 for Galanis’ murder, neither of whom knew about the other.
‘Destroyer of dreams’
Allgood called Batiste a “parasite” earlier in the week and Saturday referred to him as a “destroyer of dreams.”
Lappan throughout the week didn’t deny Batiste killed Galanis. His argument was that the incident didn’t happen in the commission of a robbery and didn’t warrant a capital murder charge, which made Batiste eligible for the death penalty.
Batiste said in police statements he used Galanis’ debit card regularly and that Galanis knew about the frequent transactions. Testimony this week by tellers at M&F Bank, located at the corner of Highway 12 and South Montgomery Street, said Galanis told a different story when he went into the bank the afternoon before his murder and realized $4,507 was missing from his checking account.
Galanis told at least two M&F Bank employees that he never even activated his debit card. The card and his pin number were still sitting in a box in Galanis’ bedroom, he told the bank employees.
But Galanis’ M&F Bank statements show the card was activated at the branch ATM at Highway 12 and South Montgomery Street on Dec. 25, 2007. Galanis was in Biloxi visiting his family at the time.
In the few months after Christmas 2007, someone spent more than $4,500 while using Galanis’s debit card without his knowledge. Galanis told at least one teller at M&F Bank he suspected Batiste had used the debit card without his permission.
What happened the morning of March 7, 2008 is still unclear. Batiste said Galanis threatened to shoot him over the missing money, then jabbed at him with a sword. A fight then ensued, during which, Batiste said in his statement, he put a rim adjuster in his bookbag and used it to strike Galanis three or four times in the head.
Gruesome scene
Photos of the crime scene shown Thursday in court gave jurors an idea of the violence which had taken place. Blood stains were found all over the carpet in at least three rooms in the apartment, and blood was spattered on walls and ceilings. Galanis’ head and face were covered with abrasions and contusions.
Allgood believes Batiste could have killed Galanis because Galanis had filed a police report the night before his death about the missing money.
Batiste tried to clean up the crime scene before sheriff’s deputies arrived. Galanis’ mother became worried when her son didn’t show up in Biloxi for a flight to Florida and asked the Sheriff’s Department to check on him.
Batiste had put a sheet on the floor in the back of his Ford Explorer and admitted in his videotaped statement he was about to put Galanis in the vehicle and leave the scene when the first deputy arrived. Batiste has been in custody since he was arrested during the evening hours of March 7, 2008.
Tim Pratt is the Starkville Bureau Reporter for The Commercial Dispatch.
Barbara B. | 10/31/2009 11:54:00 PMmark as inappropriate Tried and convicted the year after the murder took place. That's an amazing time frame compared to the national average. Go Mississippi!!
LEC | 11/1/2009 10:49:00 PMmark as inappropriate Yes this is a tragic turn in such a kind person's life. I know Bobby personally from college and he is a good man. This is just a example of the need for positive mentors in our community not just when people are children but when they are adults too. I am personally praying for his family.
Ridiculous | 11/2/2009 12:01:00 AMmark as inappropriate No, he is not a good man, he is a murderer. A 30 year old man doesn't need a mentor to know that you can't steal from your roommate and then beat him to death when he finds out.
Glenda | 11/2/2009 9:21:00 AMmark as inappropriate I agree with "Ridiculous". Everyone knows right from wrong, mentor or not. And how good of a person could he be if he could beat someone to death?? This is just another case of a child growing up with every thing that he did wrong always beign covered up and him being paid out of. If they are accountable for their wrong doings in the beginning then they may not lead to this. Would it not be better to serve time for stealing $4507 than capital murder?? Good man and college student, ha! Yes, his family needs prayers, and I pray that there is not another on like him. But I pray more for the family who lost their loved one who will never see him again. The dear mother who will never get over her loss and the tragic way that he died. God bless her.
Self-Reliant | 11/2/2009 9:23:00 AMmark as inappropriate there is nothing that can be said or no way to justify stealing and killing someone because they want what's rightfully dead i believe good people make bad choices but in this incident there is no justification
BB | 11/2/2009 9:40:00 AMmark as inappropriate Here's a very appropriate quote. I don't know where it originated.
"A man is more than the worst thing he has ever done."
It's callous to think that this young man has never done anything good in his life - that he's only a murderer. God bless both families.
MB | 11/2/2009 11:29:00 AMmark as inappropriate BB,
If he had done positive things in his life we would not be sitting here debating if he is a good man or not. If he had been a good man, he would have not stolen the debit card, stole the $4500+, and then murdered his room mate! Some people never understand evil and it is out there. He was a evil man who murdered someone! No matter how parents raise someone, you can never make the decisions for them. There is only one person to blame in this situation and that is Batiste! He was educated and almost completed his degree at MSU. He knew what he was doing and he knew he was wrong!!!
fromkemper | 11/2/2009 3:26:00 PMmark as inappropriate I know Bobby, and he is a kind person who made a mistake. He did not deserve a capital murder sentence. He doesn't deserve to die, and hopefully he want. It was so unfair for him to have an all-white jury. I am praying for an appeal.
Ridiculous | 11/2/2009 3:45:00 PMmark as inappropriate Fromkemper, words cannot even begin to describe the fiery anger and rage that rises from the very depths of my soul when I read comments like yours. What would you suggest they do? Perhaps community service or an anger management program? Or, maybe they could arrange for him to live with you and your family while being on house arrest. No, he did not make a mistake, he committed premeditated cold blooded murder. Seriously, tell me what an all black jury would have sentenced him to. There have been times when racism swayed court decisions, this however is not one of those times. It is racist of you to think that white people are not capable of making an unbiased decision. People like you yelling racism under imaginary circumstances such as this undermine the struggles of those who have faced real racism.
Wow | 11/2/2009 3:59:00 PMmark as inappropriate Wow Fromkemper I wonder if you would be as sympathetic towards Bobby if he was white. It just shows what a deplorable racist you are, if you can excuse a murder on account of skin color. It doesn't matter if he is black or white. HE KILLED A PERSON. It doesn't matter if the Jury was black or white. HE KILLED A PERSON. He made a mistake???? Would you like for someone to make a similar mistake with regards to your relatives perhaps?
from kemper ?? | 11/2/2009 7:52:00 PMmark as inappropriate Batiste picked 7 members of the jury?(1 alternate and 6 of the total 12). Did you even go to the trial? Did Batiste even show any emotion during the times evidence was revealed? Of course he didn't because he is what we call a cold blooded killer. Consider yourself lucky that you are breathing today if you hung out with this guy. The problem is that you live 200 years in the past and not the present. The jury is not racist fromkemper. In your mind unfortunately every white person is a racist. Your thought process does you more harm then good. Making a decision on this one was just to easy. Black or white doesn't matter. This guy was neither. He is what you call an animal. I am black and lived in the south. I ran as quick as i could because of people like you.
KemperCountyResident | 11/2/2009 7:52:00 PMmark as inappropriate I know Bobby personally we were once in a relationship and he was nothing like the person he has become he has even stolen money from the church I never would have thought he would graduate to murder I hear his roommate was a really good guy and he really didn't deserve what Bobby did to him I for one think Bobby has gotten what he deserves I am praying for his family and his soul but yes indeed he has to be punished for his crime I am not a strong believer in the death penalty but I think murderers, and child molesters and abusers should be put to death I loved Bobby once and still care about him and I really do hate he has to come to this kind of end but justice has to be served and in this case I think it has been served all white jury or not he should die for his crime.... The Galanis family will also continue to be in my prayers I am glad that they have closure
underthetracks | 11/4/2009 6:10:00 PMmark as inappropriate Hey Mr./Ms. Rediculous..what exactly do you mean by this quote "words cannot even begin to describe the fiery anger and rage that rises from the very depths of my soul when I read comments like yours" are you writing a poem or something? or are you that angry?
is that how angry Bobby was when he made his mistake? its obvious that anything that you say on this thread is total biased, because u admit that you cant control your emotions. I feel really bad for both parties in this situation, but i do believe Mr. Batiste was somewhat thrown under the tracks. his defense was supposed to prove that this murder DIDNT happen under the commision of another felony. from what ive read, Bobby commited the theft BEFORE the murder happened. He didnt kill him and take his money..he took his money, and from the looks of it, when confronted, a struggle ensued and bad things happened!
I dont believe that bobby deserved the death penalty for what he did..although a very bad decision, and stupid one to say the least, at most he should sit in jail the rest of his life.
As far as the color of the jury... yeah..I think that would be a very important thing in the state of MISSISSIPPI..a black man kills a white man, and has an all white jury... think about that..and in MS, of ALL places.
As for the broad that said she dated him.. Ms. KemperCountyResident... how can you say that you are not a "strong believer" in the death penalty, but you think certain people should be put to death? Abusers? of what nature? And he EVEN stole from the church... does that make the theft worse or something? i thougt stealing was stealing, no matter where it is from.. u should know that as a church goer right? dont contradict yourself.. u sound stupid!
Really, Im not on here to criticize anyones opinion, but just to give my own. Alot of you are on here defending one or the other , and overall... its a sad situation. Nobody deserves to die at another mans will..whether its an individual, or an institution... God Bless all!
underthetracks | 11/4/2009 7:25:00 PMmark as inappropriate Hey MB... sorry I didnt get to bash you, in my first reply..just realized how stupid you sound too.
"If he had done positive things in his life we would not be sitting here debating if he is a good man or not."
Can you seriously say that to yourself a couple of times and maybe you will realize how moronic it sounds. Everyone has done things in their life that they regret..and everyon has been debated, or spoken about in regards to their wrong doings. Whether it is someone who has murdered, raped, stolen something...was a bully, slutted around the town.... we all make mistakes, if you didnt already know.
and I think that MOST people do know that there is EVIL out there... however those who fail to understand the difference between EVIL, and the contrary, are the ones that dont realize.
You are another one that totally gives away your position through your uncontrollable emotions. I'm willing to guess you are a family member, friend, or friend of friend that has alot of sympathy for Mr. Galanis. I think its a very unfortunate situation. I didnt know the guy, but from what I have read, he seemed to be a VERY upstanding person. He seemed to be a smart, ambitious, go-getter that definitely had a promising life ahead of him.. but you should definitely control your emotions, and think about what you you are going to type before you do. Are you a kid- like 13 or something? If so, I understand your reasoning, but if not, than grow up and use some logic in your sentiment.
underthetracks | 11/4/2009 7:26:00 PMmark as inappropriate Hey MB... sorry I didnt get to bash you, in my first reply..just realized how stupid you sound too.
"If he had done positive things in his life we would not be sitting here debating if he is a good man or not."
Can you seriously say that to yourself a couple of times and maybe you will realize how moronic it sounds. Everyone has done things in their life that they regret..and everyon has been debated, or spoken about in regards to their wrong doings. Whether it is someone who has murdered, raped, stolen something...was a bully, slutted around the town.... we all make mistakes, if you didnt already know.
and I think that MOST people do know that there is EVIL out there... however those who fail to understand the difference between EVIL, and the contrary, are the ones that dont realize.
You are another one that totally gives away your position through your uncontrollable emotions. I'm willing to guess you are a family member, friend, or friend of friend that has alot of sympathy for Mr. Galanis. I think its a very unfortunate situation. I didnt know the guy, but from what I have read, he seemed to be a VERY upstanding person. He seemed to be a smart, ambitious, go-getter that definitely had a promising life ahead of him.. but you should definitely control your emotions, and think about what you you are going to type before you do. Are you a kid- like 13 or something? If so, I understand your reasoning, but if not, than grow up and use some logic in your sentiment.
getreal | 11/4/2009 7:27:00 PMmark as inappropriate Hey MB... sorry I didnt get to bash you, in my first reply..just realized how stupid you sound too.
"If he had done positive things in his life we would not be sitting here debating if he is a good man or not."
Can you seriously say that to yourself a couple of times and maybe you will realize how moronic it sounds. Everyone has done things in their life that they regret..and everyon has been debated, or spoken about in regards to their wrong doings. Whether it is someone who has murdered, raped, stolen something...was a bully, slutted around the town.... we all make mistakes, if you didnt already know.
and I think that MOST people do know that there is EVIL out there... however those who fail to understand the difference between EVIL, and the contrary, are the ones that dont realize.
You are another one that totally gives away your position through your uncontrollable emotions. I'm willing to guess you are a family member, friend, or friend of friend that has alot of sympathy for Mr. Galanis. I think its a very unfortunate situation. I didnt know the guy, but from what I have read, he seemed to be a VERY upstanding person. He seemed to be a smart, ambitious, go-getter that definitely had a promising life ahead of him.. but you should definitely control your emotions, and think about what you you are going to type before you do. Are you a kid- like 13 or something? If so, I understand your reasoning, but if not, than grow up and use some logic in your sentiment.
Ridiculous | 11/5/2009 9:03:00 AMmark as inappropriate Hey underthetracks or getreal, choose a name and stick with it. Also, you only have to press send once. Quick question, no offense, are you retarded? Just because you have strong emotions about something does not mean that they are uncontrolled, they are just strong. Uncontrolled emotions would be something along the lines of getting mad at your roommate because you got caught stealing money from him and beating him to death with a tire iron. A struggle ensued? Did you seriously write that? What an idiot. Galanis was not white, he was greek. We all make mistakes? Yes, when I was five I stole a piece of gum and my mom whipped my ass. Killing your roommate when you are 30, a little different. I would guess that you have some emotional tie with Batiste. Ex-lovers perhaps? If you are going to criticize other peoples opinions, then don't say that you aren't, it makes you look like that much more of an idiot. He deserves to die. I personally don't want my tax money to feed and clothe his sorry ass for the rest of his life.
P.S. If you aren't liberal by the time you are 20 you don't have a heart, if you aren't conservative by the time you are 30 you don't have a brain.
KC | 11/5/2009 9:13:00 AMmark as inappropriate I'M WIT UNDERTHETRACKS...N MS.KEMPERCOUNTYRESIDENT HOW CAN YOU SAY SUM LIKE DAT N YOU USE 2 DATE HIM...THINK TWICE N SPEAK ONCE!!!!!
Glenda | 11/5/2009 11:03:00 AMmark as inappropriate To KemperCountyResident--Never mind KC and underthetracks--people change. There have been several people that have said what a good person he was. At least you know that what he did was wrong, and were not trying to take up for him as some others have been. And as far as the death penalty--it is not the proper punishement for all crimes. However, it is not used enough in my opinion!
KemperCountyResident--Hold your head up, you are not the one that sounds stupid!! Let's see if they can figure out who they are!
KemperCountyResident--I am one, too!! :)
justice served | 11/6/2009 3:25:00 AMmark as inappropriate lets hope there is not a glitch with the execution and iti s carried through to give closure to the family.for every action is a consequence he is aware of that if not he would have plead insanity.you do the crime be preparedto do the time simply put.
get real or get under the tracks | 11/10/2009 12:26:00 AMmark as inappropriate Hey Rediculous.. why should i use one nameto answer your question, NO, im not retarded. At the risk of sounding boastful, I actually have a considerably high IQ...but what does that matter anyways?
I agree that someone can feel very strongly opinionated/emotional about certain things and be under control... but by the looks of your posts, you seem to be going off pretty hard on
people...even resorting to name-calling.
also, my comment about the white jury was just backing up what another person on here mentioned... I could care less if he was black, white, greek, green or purple... by the way.. white is a color... not an ethnic group.. from the pictures i saw..he sure looked white to me.
Am I really defending him? not at all.. im merely stating the fact that they were supposed to prove that it happened in the "commission" of another crime... He wasnt robbing him when the murder took place.
As far as struggle.. i dont know...i wasnt there. I guess Bobby is the only one that really knows what happened that day. I would have confronted my roommate too, if i suspected he was stealing from me. I dont blame him, and I blame Bobby for taken it as far as he did which ended in murder But it still doesnt take away from my original argument.. it wasnt during the commisiion of a robbery.
And know.. Bobby isnt my ex-lover..sorry, i dont swing that way! i hope you find peace
PS.. i really dont get your reasoning behind that quote about political parties... what the hell does that have to do with this discussion... hahaha OMG some people...
Family Member | 11/13/2009 9:48:00 PMmark as inappropriate I am a family member of Bobby. I always knew the "sweet and kind" Bobby. Words cannot explain how I feel for both of the families. I kno that the family is torn into pieces. I will forever keep them in my prayers. I really hate he got the death penalty but he's human just like all the other murders. I love him dearly. Anyone can snap and I believe that is what happened. The Galanis family will forever be in my heart and prayers. Let's not get on here and talk down on other peoples comments. I serve an awesome GOD and he hears a sinner's prayer. Yall just pray because if that was ur kin folk that killed someone, u wouldn't want to hear all da negative and harsh things. It hurts!! To the Galanis Family, I kno we can't bring him back but I am soo sorry that Bboby did what he did. Yall have my deepest sympathy.
Naomi Smalls | 11/15/2009 10:28:00 PMmark as inappropriate Personally I believe that the people that grew up around him in the same county and school system would know him more than someone who only spent a few years in college with him. When you go to college you can almost start a brand new identitiy because no one knows you. Therefore how can you justify his actions the way that you do. Anyman that has the balls to steal money from his family, church, and friends and is afraid of going to jail would snap and kill someone but that doesn't make it okay. Yes, I blame him for his actions but I also blame the people that have always helped him cover up them up along the way. It just finally caught up to him. I'm not saying he should die but I do believe he should be punished SEVERLY.
a friend | 11/16/2009 5:08:00 PMmark as inappropriate I know Bobby well I grew up with him he was not a killer,yes what he did was wrong and in no way am I excusing what he did but we have to look at it this way if yhe boy had killed a black boy he might have gotten 7 to 10 years .The man had a all white jury and judge we all know the racism is still a big part of Ms that was not fair but it wasn't fair what bobby did and if it went down the way the papers said maybe it was a accident I thoght if there was a reasonable doubt death penalty was out you are in everyone prayers
a friend | 11/16/2009 5:13:00 PMmark as inappropriate The money situation UUHHH!!!! Don't act like you never stole and yes that was wrong of him to you don't know people situation understand before oyu speak a couple of years a go in philly ms a white man killed two teen black kids and only got a few years plus he called his neighbor and said I got them n....s so whers the justice huh!
ms collinsville | 11/18/2009 9:07:00 PMmark as inappropriate I went to school with Bobby from kdg to 12th grade. He graduated with honors and was a nice, kindhearted guy. Yes what he did was wrong, but I do not believe in the death penalty. Life without the possibility of parole should have been considered. What he did was wrong and there are no excuses, a life sentence without parole would have sufficed. My prayers are with the Galanis family and with you, Ms Annie. You raised him right, he just made some bad choices. He did the crime, now he must do the time.
ms collinsville | 11/18/2009 9:13:00 PMmark as inappropriate Oh by the way, when a child gets in trouble you show me one parent that wouldn't help their child. If yours didn't, what kind of parents do you have? I'm not being mean, but parents will always help their children, no matter what they did. I know mine would. I don't think it is a race thing. Just a good excuse for the conviction he received.
