Guilty verdict in 2020 death of off-duty Abbotsford police officer in Nelson

A man has been found guilty of manslaughter in the 2020 death of an off-duty Abbotsford police officer in Nelson.

The BC Prosecution Service confirms to CityNews that Alex Willness was convicted Tuesday, nearly three years after Const. Allan Young died.

Young was taken to the hospital in critical condition on July 16, 2020, after he was assaulted while intervening in what was described as “a disturbance” in the B.C. Interior community. The 55-year-old died days later.

Willness was eventually arrested and charged in connection with the case. A date for sentencing is now expected to be set on Aug. 14.

Const. Art Stele with the Abbotsford Police Department (APD) says, “it has been a very long journey for family, friends, and colleagues.”

“Although this does not bring closure, it is comforting to know that the person responsible has been held accountable,” Stele told CityNews after the verdict was announced.

He says the department continues to be in touch with Young’s family.

“I think today, first responders are operating in a very challenging work environment. Any injury or unfortunate loss of life in or outside the line of duty is always a tragic event. Our department has had its history of tragic events happening and we relied heavily on our community, who has been very supportive and fantastic,” Stele said.

“It’s never an easy thing to come across or get over. For me personally, it is always a very heartfelt and difficult time when you have someone who gives their all for the public, serving the public, putting themselves and their safety behind them, and intervening for public safety. It’s always very tragic to have someone lose their life in the line of duty and, to that effect, the verdict today, for me personally, of course, is not closure. However, it does show that the person responsible will be held accountable for their actions.”

Related articles: 

• Off-duty Abbotsford, B.C.. police officer dies after trying to stop disturbance

• Manslaughter charges laid in Nelson death of off-duty Abbotsford police officer

Young joined the APD in 2004. He spent his 16 years with the department in patrol as well as the Drug Enforcement Unit.

According to the department, the man was born and raised in Dumbarton, Scotland. It says Young immigrated to Canada in 1997, joining the Toronto Police Service a few years later, in 2000.

Chief Const. Mike Serr said in a statement in 2020 that Young always treated everyone with kindness and respect.

“He always had time for a laugh and a joke,” Serr said. “Allan was never too busy for his friends and family and there was nothing he wouldn’t do to help.”

-With files from Robyn Crawford