Trial: Court hears shooting was result of a confrontation over drugs

The prosecution at the Maidenhead tattoo parlour shooting trial has told the court it suspects the attack was the result of a 'violent confrontation' over drugs.

A jury at Reading Crown Court this morning has been hearing the opening statement by Cairns Louis Nelson QC, prosecuting.

The prosecution claims the four defendants - Anthony Cooke, 31, from Bedford; Leon Dorman, 29, from Dunstable; Joseph Gentle, 22, of no fixed abode and Drizz James, 22, from Luton, travelled to Maidenhead as part of a group of seven men to take part in a drug deal with the two Maidenhead men who were later injured.

But for reasons not yet known, the deal resulted in the firing of a handgun, allegedly by Cooke, at the two victims.

Mr Nelson told the jury they would be taken on a 'fascinating journey' into the drug dealing world in the coming weeks.

But he warned the nature of the case meant the full truth behind it might not be revealed.

"There's every possibility that the full story of what and why it happened in that basement tattoo parlour, will never see the light of day," he said.

His statement will continue this afternoon.

The case continues.

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Report 1: Trial: Jury sworn in at Maidenhead shooting trial