Killer to serve 15 years before parole eligibility for random attack in Calgary

CALGARY - A person who randomly killed a Nigerian nursing scholar in a brutal assault should serve 15 years in jail earlier than he's eligible to use for parole.

Keeton Gagnon, 43, was discovered responsible in September of second-degree homicide for an unprovoked knife assault on Nicholas Nwonye on a Calgary light-rail transit platform in June 2017.

Nwonye, 46, had simply completed his nursing lessons at a downtown faculty when he was stabbed.

Gagnon then walked away and boarded one other prepare the place he was arrested.

Earlier than delivering her sentence, Justice Michele Hollins of Court docket of Queen’s Bench mentioned the crime befell amongst harmless individuals who have been attempting to make use of public transit, “which ought to be a secure factor to do.” She mentioned the general public hazard Gagnon created was of grave concern.

“Maybe probably the most egregious a part of this offence was its senselessness, particularly the random and apparently arbitrary selection of Mr. Nwonye because the sufferer,” Hollins mentioned Tuesday.

“There may be completely no motive or motive accessible to us for this act and extra importantly to Mr. Nwonye’s household.”

Hollins mentioned Gagnon’s tragic and abusive upbringing did decrease his ethical blameworthiness. He started ingesting at age 10, used medicine when he was 13 or 14 and had 42 felony convictions between 1997 and 2017.

“Actually that is an offender who has not solely been traumatized and abused as a baby, however maybe extra devastatingly was fully, emotionally deserted. He has had not one of the love, safety, consideration and feeling of security that every one kids ought to have,” she mentioned.

“Mr. Gagnon may pretty be characterised as an individual whose path was largely decided for him, an individual who had little selection about tips on how to take care of such despairing circumstances.”

The Crown was looking for a parole ineligibility interval of between 15 and 17 years on the automated life sentence, whereas the defence steered 12 years can be adequate.

“This was a brutal crime. The depth of the stab wounds indicated an excessive amount of pressure. It's also clear from the video proof that Mr. Nwonye had no concept this was coming,” Hollins mentioned.

“Considering the really horrible circumstances of your life thus far, but in addition the really horrible circumstances of a violent offence that ended the lifetime of a totally harmless bystander — and disadvantaged his household of their husband, father, son and brother — I'm growing the interval of parole ineligibility so that you can 15 years.”

Gagnon addressed the courtroom instantly after his sentencing.

“Can I file my attraction now?”

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Jan. 18, 2022.