By Gillian Graham

Staff Writer

Opening statements are set to begin Monday in the trial of Rory Holland of Biddeford.

Holland, 56, will be tried on two counts of murder for the June 30, 2009, shooting deaths of brothers Derek and Gage Greene on South Street in Biddeford. The trial will take place at Penobscot County Superior Court in Bangor.

Jury selection began Oct. 18 and the trial is expected to last about two weeks.

Justice Roland Cole granted a defense motion earlier this year to move the trial because of media coverage in southern Maine. He also ruled last month that an illegal possession of a firearm charge be separated from the two murder charges.

Derek Greene, 21, and Gage Greene, 19, were shot and killed outside of Holland’s South Street home in the early morning hours of June 30, 2009. After allegedly shooting the brothers, Holland went inside his home during an hours-long standoff with police. He was arrested within hours of the shooting and has remained in jail since.

According to an affidavit filed by state police Detective Mark Holmquist, Holland and the Greene brothers knew each other from the South Street neighborhood. Holland and Derek Greene were involved in an altercation on May 12, 2009, when Holland allegedly grabbed Derek Greene’s groin. Derek Greene then punched Holland in the face and was charged with assault, he said. Derek Greene was under court order to stay away from Holland.

On June 29, Derek and Gage Greene and several friends were drinking alcohol at an apartment on Williams Court, Holmquist said. The group left the apartment and later were headed home around 1 a.m. when Derek Greene crossed to the opposite side of the street from Holland’s house, he said. Gage Greene and a friend continued to walk directly in front of Holland’s house, Holmquist said.

Holmquist said a witness told detectives he saw a verbal confrontation between Gage Greene and Holland on the sidewalk. The witness, Brandon Bernardini, told police he heard Holland say, “You better get your boy out of here,” according to the affidavit. He then saw Holland pull a gun from his waistband and shoot Gage Greene once in the chest, he said.

Witnesses told police Holland shot Derek Greene as he ran toward his brother from across the street, according to the affidavit. Bernardini told police he thought Holland fired six or seven rounds during the altercation.

Holland surrendered to police around 6 a.m. and was taken to York County Jail where, during the booking process, Holland began “sobbing uncontrollably and screaming,” according to the affidavit.

Police investigating the scene found five brass 9mm shell casings scattered on the street in front of Holland’s house. Police also found a black Glock magazine with about 15, 9mm cartridges in a grassy area near the brick patio at the rear of the house. A black Glock 9mm pistol was found on the roof of the house, according to the affidavit.

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.