Two children are now nursing injuries and their mother battling for life in hospital after they were allegedly attacked and chopped by a man said to be the woman's lover in Seaview Gardens in Kingston early yesterday morning.

Police are now searching for the man, identified only as Kevin or 'Babuh', who they suspect sought refuge with relatives in Marverley, another community in Kingston.

This female resident is a picture of grief after viewing the *lo**ed house where a woman and her two daughters were chopped by a man said to be her lover at Seaview Gardens in Kingston yesterday. (Photo: Michael Gordon)

He is in his late 40s, of Indian descent, slim built and of a dark complexion, police said.

Shocked residents, who yesterday gathered at the victims' house, identified the injured persons as Maxine Brown, 45; Shadecia, 17; and Courtney Gordon, 7.

Brown was chopped in her face and on other parts of her upper body. Shadecia was also chopped in the face while her sister was chopped on one of her arms. Late yesterday, police listed their conditions as stable.

The children's father visited them at hospital late yesterday afternoon, police said.

According to the residents, the incident had its genesis in an argument shortly after 11:00 Thursday night at Brown's home.

Residents claimed that Babuh, who they said lives at a nearby squatter settlement, left Brown's home during the altercation but returned shortly after 2:00 am, when he allegedly "scoped out" her house before letting himself in.

To them, the brutal incident was the detonation of a time b****.

According to the residents, Brown's life has been miserable since she met the man earlier this year.

"Is about three months now they are together and from he started coming here is like she cannot go anywhere, she cannot talk to her friends," said one woman. "Him lock her away from the world, till she all a play ludo by herself inside. Tell me now, nuh mad people lock up by themselves inside everyday? Is what kind of life that?" she asked before letting out an ear-splitting wail at the sight of Brown's *lo**ed house.

"Them started arguing from in the night and he came back and was even on the woman's house top looking to see if she gone to bed before him go in there on her," added the infuriated woman.

Babuh, the residents said, used a machete to chop Brown before he attacked her daughters as they slept.

The residents said that the man left the house with the weapon after locking the injured persons inside.

"They were left to bleed to death," said Brown's female neighbour, who gave her name only as Murphy and who said she was the first to rush to Brown's assistance.

According to the woman, she was awakened by the seven-year-old, who called out for her after their attacker fled. She said that the injured child gave her a key through the front window, which she used to open the door.

"As I open the door and see her [Brown] covered in *lo**, I just ran out and started shouting. I know that it was her but to the way how she stay is like I couldn't handle it, I had to just run out," said the woman, who held back tears while recounting the frightening experience.

"Little after that I saw the other daughter coming out of her room with a chop to her face and covered in *lo** too," added the woman, as a fierce-looking youth squeezed past her on the verandah.

"We only sorry that we never got to hold the dutty boy," interjected the youth, his face a picture of disgust as he exited the house.

Inside, splatters of *lo** on curtains, walls, a refrigerator, a dining table, and an overturned tricycle in the kitchen, told the gruesome tale.

A beam of sunlight in the children's dark bedroom brought a *lo**-drenched bed into focus, amidst scattered clothes, suggesting a struggle between the couple.

But while many residents condemned the attack, many were angry that Brown did not make an alarm during her ordeal.

"I don't want anybody tell me about she was afraid him kill her. From she get the first chop, she must know that he wanted to kill her, there is no question about it," one woman shouted as she discussed the incident with other residents. "Mello (Brown's alias) should have shouted out so people could have helped her."