Abbotsford PD welcomes guilty verdict of man who killed off-duty AbbyPD constable in 2020

NELSON — A man whose violent actions led to the death of an off-duty Abbotsford police officer following a confrontation in downtown Nelson back in July 2020 has been found guilty of manslaughter.

Alex Willness received a five-year prison sentence on Thursday, January 11 in Nelson after being found guilty of manslaughter in the death of off-duty Abbotsford Police Department Constable Allan Young. Willness hit Const. Young on the head with a skateboard during an altercation. Young was visiting Nelson during the incident on July 16, 2020 but died five days later.

Abbotsford Police Department spokesperson Cst. Art Stele welcomed the verdict that his department said was a long time coming.

“Today’s sentencing of Mr. Willness has been a long time coming,” Cst. Stele said. “It is clear from the evidence presented at trial that Cst. Young’s death was senseless and unnecessary.”