caught the attackers red handed -- if they had answered his 911 call.

The witness, who does not want to be named, told The Royal Gazette that he heard the attack taking place outside his home off Wellington Street, St.

George's, at 4.30 a.m. on Christmas Day.

The victim, a 23-year-old man from Mullet Bay, was eventually taken to hospital with severe cuts after being attacked by three armed men.

The witness, who does not wish to be named, said: "What upsets me is that I woke up at 4.30 a.m. by the attack going on outside my house.

"There was a lot of cursing going on and I could here these guys whacking another guy who was screaming. Then I heard one of them say `We're going to f****** kill you'.'' "It was very frightening and I was worried for my wife. I locked the doors and telephoned the Police while the attack was still going on.

"But when the Police answered they just said that they couldn't send a car because they were on standby.

"I was getting desperate and told them that somebody was being killed outside my house and that they should come over quickly.

"The Policewoman then said they had already received one call about it but still couldn't send anyone because they were on standby. I then said she was crazy and hung up.

"The attack finished at about 4.35.a.m. and then there was just complete silence. I really did think they had killed this man.

"I waited up for another hour to see if the Police turned up but I never heard anything more.

"The thing is, I only live about 20 seconds from the Police Station. I don't know what they mean exactly when they say they're on standby but I thought it meant that they were there to answer any emergencies.

"It seems they would have preferred to have come along an hour later and find a dead body and deal with the murder investigation rather than come along and stop the attack in the first place.'' When a Police Press officer first released news of the incident to the media she said that officers attended a Mullet Bay address at about 5.30 a.m. and found the victim of the assault surrounded by his family.

But last night she confirmed that Police first became aware of the incident just before 4 a.m. They drove to Mullet Bay Road and saw two pairs of men walking along. When one of the pairs was questioned, both men said that everything was okay and so the officers left.

"We now know that that was the victim and one of his assailants,'' the spokesman said.

"We responded to two calls -- one at about 4.00 a.m. and one at about 5.00 a.m.

"We don't know anything about a call at 4.30 a.m. -- there's no record of that but I will need to check into it further.'' Last night acting Premier Jerome Dill said he would be personally looking into the matter.

"It's my practice not to comment unless I have the facts but I will be speaking to the appropriate people,'' he said.

CRIME CRM