neighbour Michael O'Brian leaning on a wall with his insides hanging out of a knife wound to the side of his stomach, a supreme Court jury heard yesterday.

O'Brian, 46, has accused 24-year-old John Michael Fox of Bridle Hill, Smith's Parish, of attempting to murder and rob him on November 2, 1993.

He sustained knife wounds to his elbow, arm and left side of his stomach which damaged his intestines and caused multiple wounds to his pancreas.

Fox has denied the charge and a second count of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Dean told the court that while he was in his apartment next door he heard a cry for help and ran out to see O'Brian leaning against the wall.

"I noticed that there was blood and an injury to his left side,'' Mr. Dean said. "I could see that his internal organs were hanging out, and I took him inside my apartment, locked the door and called an ambulance.

"O'Brian said he had been attacked in his apartment. I asked him who did it and he said he did not know the name of the guy.

"He told me to contact Joe Fortuna at Marshall's Maintenance because he would know the man's name since he had been in the office earlier.'' On Monday O'Brian told the court that he first saw Fox at Marshall's Maintenance Company Ltd. where he worked.

He added that Fox was looking for operations manager Mr. Joe Fortuna so he could borrow some money.

He went on to describe how Fox came to his Langton Lane apartment that night looking for a man called Thompson. O'Brian gave evidence that he let Fox in to look in the telephone book for the man's address and that Fox attacked him.

O'Brian said Fox hit him in the head and elsewhere on his body after demanding money. He then left his apartment and called for help.

In the courtroom yesterday, O'Brian took the stand again.

Defence lawyer Mr. Archie Warner asked O'Brian what became of his wallet during the so-called intended robbery.

"I do not know what happened to my wallet but it was recovered and returned to me,'' O'Brian said.

Mr. Warner said: "You tried to make this attack look like a robbery by causing your wallet to disappear.

"After you made homosexual overtures to Fox and the struggle began Fox told you that all he wanted was to borrow some money.'' He added O'Brian stated that he did not know what was hitting him but he felt blows.

"In your statement, you said you were kicked,'' Mr. Warner asked.

O'Brian replied: "I must have been convinced I was kicked.'' Mr. Warner added: "It's in your best interest to make up a credible story.'' Later yesterday, Joe Fortuna told the court that he had known Fox for some time.

"On November 1 Fox asked me to lend him $1,500 so he could pay his rent,'' Fortuna said. "I told him that I didn't have the cash because I sent it to my property in the Azores.

"He then asked me if I could borrow the money from a friend and I told him that I would see what I could do. I told him to come back the next day.'' Fortuna added that the next day, Fox went to Marshall's Maintenance looking for him.

"I was out and he spoke with O'Brian. O'Brian called me on my beeper number to tell me Fox was there and I told him to tell him that I would be back in two hours.

"When Fox came back I told him that I was sorry but was not able to get the money.

"At 11.15 that night I got a call from O'Brian's neighbour telling me that O'Brian had been attacked.'' The trial continues today before Puisne Judge the Hon. Mrs. Justice Wade.

Crown counsel Mr. Stephen Harrison is prosecuting.