Two men have been found guilty of murder, with three others convicted of manslaughter following a brutal drug gang attack in Exmouth last year.
Fatal Revenge Stabbing Ends Young Life
Denva Smith, 24, was stabbed in the arm in the early hours of 31 May 2025 and bled to death after being chased into a garden. Thomas Ward, 25, delivered the fatal stab. Ben Mason, 24, pursued Denva after the attack. Both men denied murder but were convicted after a trial.
Three More Men Found Guilty of Manslaughter
Alongside Ward and Mason, 24-year-old Zac Davies (Exmouth), 24-year-old Dylan Chadwick (St Helens), and 27-year-old Ben Helliker (Exmouth) were found guilty of manslaughter. They were all involved in the coordinated group attack.
Revenge and Rivalry Behind Deadly Attack
The killing stemmed from a violent drug dispute. Denva had recently assaulted Mason, who vowed revenge. Ward, once Denva’s best friend, had fallen out with him over a complicated love triangle. Prosecutors revealed the five men planned to rob Denva’s stash of cocaine that night.
The attack unfolded shortly after midnight as Denva and a friend were ambushed while walking along Dinan Way. Ward stabbed Denva during a confrontation on a roadside embankment. Despite trying to escape, Denva collapsed in a garden, where he died calling for help. Witnesses and CCTV traced the attackers’ movements, including their return to collect Denva’s lost shoes later dumped in a bin.
Investigation and Trial Highlights
Detective Inspector Guy Biggar praised the jury’s verdict and thanked Denva’s family for their strength. The presiding judge called the case “extraordinarily difficult and complex” and is set to sentence the defendants in early May.
Charlotte Ream of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Denva Smith was the victim of a brutal, targeted attack that tragically ended his life. Today’s verdicts remind us that carrying knives only leads to tragedy. Our thoughts remain with Denva’s family and young children.”
