NELSON, Canada – Following a conviction for manslaughter in the death of an off-duty Abbotsford police officer, a man from Castlegar, B.C. has been sentenced to five years in prison. Alex Willness was given credit for the 405 days he spent in custody before being sentenced and is now required to serve the remaining nearly four years in prison.
The altercation that led to the death of Constable Allan Young, 55, occurred while he was visiting Nelson in July 2020. Young passed away several days after the incident. Willness was charged around eight months after the tragic event.
Originally from Scotland, Young had moved to Canada in 1997 and had served with the Toronto Police Service for four years before joining the Abbotsford police in 2004. The Abbotsford Police Department released a statement calling Young’s death “senseless and unnecessary,” expressing relief at the conviction but acknowledging that it cannot bring Young back to his family or the department.
The department also added that Const. Young and his family remain in their thoughts and hearts. The tragic event has brought sorrow to both the family and the police department. The convicted, Willness, will now face the consequences of his actions as he begins his prison sentence.
In conclusion, following a manslaughter conviction, a B.C. man has been sentenced to five years in prison for the death of an off-duty Abbotsford police officer. Constable Allan Young, 55, passed away several days after an altercation while visiting Nelson in July 2020. Willness, who is from Castlegar, received 405 days’ credit for time served in custody and was ordered to serve the remaining nearly four years in prison.