Parole revoked 2 times for 'violent' man accused of murdering Nigerian nursing student, documents show

The man accused of murdering a Nigerian father who was studying nursing in Calgary displayed a "a willingness to be violent" and had his parole revoked twice, once for reoffending within hours of his release, CBC News has learned.

On June 3, Keeton Gagnon was arrested after Nicholas Nwonye died in a random knife attack on the City Hall C-train platform. It would have been within months after Gagnonwas released from prison for a third time.

Gagnonhad been serving a three-year federal sentence for assault with a weapon and seven other charges.

• Victim of random C-Train attack a Nigerian nursing student and father of 3

The first time Gagnon was sent back to prison wasin September 2015 after his statutory release was revoked because he broke into a home and held "two children against their will" before assaulting a neighbour who tried to rescue the kids.

"The neighbours of the victims detained you and you struck one of them with a blunt instrument," reads the board's decision.

"This demonstrated your lack of self management and your susceptibility to alcohol and drugs."

One year later, Gagnonwas let out a second time but he got"very drunk" and caused a disturbance within hours of his release, according to the Parole Board of Canada's decision to revoke his statutory release a second time.

Gagnon has dozens of criminal convictions in B.C.

In February 2017, Gagnon's sentence expired. On June 3, 2017, he was arrested, accused in the vicious, fatal attack on Nwonye.

Gagnon has a long criminal history with police in British Columbiadating back two decades. He's a careercriminal with dozens of convictions including assault with a weapon, robbery, escaping custody, and many breaches.

The board tried to impose special conditions on Gagnon including that he was not allowed to consume drugs or alcohol, substances which were considered "a major risk factor" in his risk to reoffend.

"You have come from a challenging upbringing which has undoubtedly contributed to your criminal behaviour," the board stated.

Nursing student leaves behind 3 kids

Gagnonwas also ordered to follow a substance-abuse treatment plan, live at community correctional centre, and was not allowed to associate with anyone involved in criminal activity and/or consuming drugs and alcohol.

Nwonye, 46, left his job as an engineer in Nigeria a year-and-a-half ago to bring his family to Canada. He was working two jobs to support his wife and three children while taking nursing courses at Bow Valley College.

Fellow classmates have started afundraisingwebsitefor him.

Gagnon will appear in a Calgary courtroom on June 23.