CRUZ BAY — A St. John man has been ordered to serve 10 years in prison for biting off part of another man’s ear while riding a ferry.
A Superior Court jury convicted Emanuel Greer, 47. of Calabash Boom, of one count of mayhem 10 months ago.
Virgin Islands Superior Court Judge Kathleen Mackay sentenced Greer to serve 10 years in prison on Tuesday.
Greer has two other convictions and was sentenced as an Habitual Offender by Mackay. As such, he will not be eligible for probation, parole or early release. No portion of his decade-long sentence can be suspended.
Akeima Williams is permanently disfigured after Greer bit off a chunk of his right ear, according to a statement in court at sentencing.
“This matter has changed my life tremendously and forever,” Williams said. “Even at nights I can’t sleep on my ear because it’s uncomfortable. I still feel pain at times.”
The incident occurred on June 4, 2016, when Williams was traveling on the ferry from St. Thomas to St. John.
Williams testified at trial that Greer was pacing on the boat and talking loading to himself and they got in an argument when Williams asked Greer and another man to speak more softly.
Greer threatened to throw Williams overboard and drown him. After the ferry docked and as Williams began walking to work “Greer attacked him, latched onto his ear four times, growled like a dog and bit into his ear until a portion of his ear came off.”
Williams was taken to Myrah Keating Clinic for treatment where doctors were unable to reattach the bit off piece of ear.
Greer apologized for his behavior saying he was “truly sorry for the problems I caused this court.”