A Ragga night in High Wycombe is worlds away from the surroundings of Reading Crown Court number three. But the shooting of Natasha Derby has linked the two venues which are similar in size if not in tone.

What had started as a noisy and trouble-free evening at Wycombe Multi Racial Centre, in St Mary Street, is now being discussed in a cold, peak-furnished modern court room.

Reading man Dwayne Haughton faces a murder charge and the scale of the police's investigation could be seen when three huge boxes of files were wheeled into the court room on day one of the trial.

In the dock, surrounded by three burly security guards, Haughton cut a serious figure in a smart blue suit listening intently to every word.

He has examined plans of the community centre when the jury have been directed to where witnesses were standing when they heard the crack of gunshot.

At times Haughton has relaxed by signalling to friends in the public gallery. He smiled as one young woman from Reading recalled seeing Haughton chatting and holding a girl at the dance that he "fancied".

Day two of the case saw a stream of witnesses tell of enjoying the Ragga night before hearing the bang. Many of them were young women just like Natasha.

One girl spoke of enjoying the night before hearing the bang.

But as she told of seeing Natasha falling to the floor, tears began to stream down her face.

There has been little time for a break with either the prosecution, defence, judge, witnesses or experts speaking.

But everybody fell silent on Wednesday as we heard for the first time the voice of Haughton.

A taped police interview was played in court where Haughton answered questions after being arrested.

With only a tape machine to listen to, members of the jury looked over at Haughton as his voice played to the court room.

As Haughton denied the shooting he described the chaos after the shot was fired. The same mayhem which other witnesses had told of.

Now the friends and family of Natasha, who have sat quietly in the public gallery just feet away from Haughton, will wait to see if Court Three will bring to a close the tragic events which began on September 4 last year.