FARMINGTON — The suspect in the fatal shooting of a Cape Elizabeth man reportedly tossed a loaded handgun from hand to hand while dancing to music on the radio.

The gun went off and the shot hit Andrew Holland, 23, in the abdomen. He died at Franklin Memorial Hospital. Ryan J. Ouimet, 23, was charged with manslaughter.

The shooting took place inside the High Street apartment of Caroline Halloran, 23, of Acton, Mass., on May 31.

Ouimet, Holland and Halloran smoked marijuana and then Ouimet took out a handgun, according to a WCSH report. The three friends were recent University of Maine at Farmington graduates. Holland graduated from Cape Elizabeth High School in 2006.

Ouimet’s lawyer on Wednesday asked a Superior Court justice to accept a new bail agreement.

Defense lawyer Michael Cunniff and Assistant District Attorney Andrew Robinson worked prior to the hearing on a new bail condition that would allow Ouimet to travel to his home in New Jersey and back to Farmington. He would drive straight to Colts Neck, N.J., and straight back, Cunniff told the court.

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“My client is devastated,” Cunniff said, and requested the chance for Ouimet to receive support from his family.

Ouimet was released June 1 from Franklin County Detention Center on $10,000 cash bail. Conditions included no use of alcohol, drugs or firearms and that he could not leave the state.

Justice Michaela Murphy would not approve the new bail order without an agreement for monitoring the bail conditions by someone such as Maine Pre-Trial Services case manager Richard Simcock, who could keep in touch with authorities in New Jersey, she said.

There must be some supervision while he’s there, she said. “I’m not imposing conditions that can’t be enforced.”

Murphy agreed to sign the new bail order if an agreement with Simcock is reached.

Holding back tears, Ouimet listened to Murphy address the felony manslaughter charge he is facing. The charge is punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

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The charge will come before a Franklin County grand jury for indictment probably in September, Murphy said. The earliest trial date would be October, though the case could be pushed to February 2012.

Surrounded by what appeared to be family members, Ouimet left the courtroom without comment.

Holland and Ouimet graduated from UMF in May; Halloran graduated last year. All three were working at a Mount Vernon restaurant this spring.

Sun Journal staff writer Ann Bryant can be reached at abryant@sunjournal.com.

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Ryan J. Quimet, 23, left, makes his initial appearance with his attorney Michael Cunniff at the Franklin County Courthouse in Farmington on Wednesday.


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