Richard Ginika Izuora
Authorities in Canada have commenced criminal legal charges against a Calgary man who alleged killing of a Nigerian man.
The Nigerian, identified as Nicholas Nwonye, was studying nursing at Bow Valley College and was brutally murdered by a Calgary man on Thursday, June 3, 2017.
Nwonye was fatally stabbed in a random attack at the City Hall CTrain platform as he waited for his train after classes.
The suspected killer , Keeton Gagnon, 43, was arrested inside a CTrain car shortly after.
On Monday, September 13, 2021; the first day of Gagnon’s seven-day trial; Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Michele Hollins heard that identity will not be an issue at trial. CBC Canada reports that Crown and defence have agreed it was Gagnon who fatally attacked Nwonye; who was a stranger to him.
The report says defence may argue the killing was not intentional and ask the judge to convict on manslaughter, a lesser offence than murder.
Gagnon has a long criminal history with Police in British Columbia dating back two decades. He is a career criminal with dozens of convictions; including assault with a weapon, robbery, escaping custody and many breaches.
Just months earlier, Gagnon had been released from his third stint in prison, reports from the media in Canada indicate. The suspect had been serving a three-year sentence for assault with a weapon.
Nicholas Nwonye had arrived in Canada from Nigeria 18 months before he was fatally stabbed in a random attack. Nwonye had three young children and was working two jobs while taking nursing classes at Bow Valley College.
The deceased left behind wife and 3 kids
Nwonye, 46, had left his job as an engineer in Nigeria 18months earlier to bring his family to Canada. He was working two jobs to support his wife and three children; including an infant, while taking nursing courses at Bow Valley College.