NELSON, British Columbia – A man who fatally struck off-duty Abbotsford police Const. Allan Young with a skateboard has been sentenced to five years in prison for manslaughter. The sentence was handed down at the B.C. Supreme Court after the man, Alex Willness, was found guilty of manslaughter last year. With credit for time served, Willness’s prison term was reduced to three years and 325 days.
The incident occurred on July 16, 2020, when Willness struck Young in the head with his skateboard on a main street in Nelson. Witnesses testified that Willness and two friends had been disturbing customers on a nearby restaurant patio with their yelling when Young confronted them. Young, a 20-year veteran of the police department, approached the group and asked them to stop, prompting Willness to strike him with the skateboard.
The trial heard that the blow knocked Young to the ground, causing him to strike his head again, resulting in a fatal open skull fracture and bleeding in the brain. Young later died in Kelowna General Hospital.
In a statement, the Abbotsford Police Department expressed that Const. Young’s death was senseless and unnecessary, emphasizing that while they are glad for Willness’s conviction and sentencing, it doesn’t bring Young back to his family or colleagues.
The sentencing of Willness is seen as a long time coming, marking the end of a legal process that has been ongoing since the tragic event occurred. The impact of Young’s death on his family, the police department, and the community as a whole has been profound, with the consequences of a seemingly random act of violence reverberating in the wake of the tragedy.
In conclusion, the prison sentence for Alex Willness for the manslaughter of Const. Allan Young bring a measure of closure, but it does not erase the pain and loss experienced by his loved ones and colleagues. Young’s untimely death has left a lasting impact, and his memory will continue to be honored by those who knew and worked alongside him in the Abbotsford Police Department.