Apartment Cleared of Liability in Death Case

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WECBI) — In a split decision, the state Court of Appeals upholds the dismissal of a lawsuit against a Starkville apartment complex over a beating death more than six years ago.

Bob Batiste killed his roommate Andreas Galanis in their apartment in 21 Apartments in March 2006. Batiste was convicted and given the death penalty.

Galanis’ mother and sister sued the complex, claiming it did not warn Gilanis about Batiste’s history of violence. But the complex argued background checks showed no such history and that Batiste and Galanis were best friends before the slaying and had chosen to livge together after meeting through the complex’s roommate reference program.

Both were 27-year-old MSU students at the time.

Batiste apparently killed Galanis after Galanis confronted him about using his debit card without permission.

Oktibbeha County Judge Lee Howard dismissed the lawsuit. The Court of Appeals confirmed that ruling but with some members dissenting. Dissenters said a background check that revealed a simple assault charge in 2002 should have been enough warning but the complex’s manager said they were never told of any conviction in that case.