By Bryna Sim

SHE watched in horror as three suspected secret society members bashed her husband's head repeatedly with metal poles until it was a bloody pulp.

Photos: Lianhe Wanbao, Shin Min Daily, TNP

Cleaner Lim Eng Soon, 39, died from his injuries. His wife, who wanted to be known only as Mrs Lim, was powerless to do anything to stop them.

She, too, was beaten and slashed in the attack near Block 144 Teck Whye Lane, at 12.05am on Monday.

"He kicked me in the chest and back, and punched my neck," said the 47-year-old warehouse assistant, who also suffered knife slash wounds on her right upper arm during the attack.

As she was being attacked, she saw her husband collapse.

When she recovered sufficiently, she rushed to his side.

But he was already unconscious.

"I shouted his name, shook him and asked him to wake up. But I got no reaction," she told The New Paper in Mandarin at Mr Lim's wake last night.

The four men fled when someone shouted "police, police", said Mrs Lim.

It was too late.

Mr Lim was taken to the National University Hospital at 12.20am and was pronounced dead about 12 hours later.