Men convicted for Exmouth man's murder
Thomas Ward and Ben Mason were found guilty of Denva Smith's murder.
Five men have been convicted of the killing of 24-year-old Denva Smith in Exmouth last year.
Denva died in the early hours of May the 31st 2025 from a stab wound to his arm.
25-year-old Thomas Ward delivered the stab wound. Ben Mason, 24, chased the injured Denva through the streets of the town until he crashed into a resident's garden. He then collapsed and bled to death. Ward and Mason denied murder but were found guilty following a trial.
Three other men who were part of the group attacking Denva were cleared of murder, but were found guilty of manslaughter. They are Zac Davies, 24, of Hawthorn Grove, Exmouth ; Ben Helliker, 27, of Halsdon Road in Exmouth; and Dylan Chadwick, 24, of Cambourne Avenue, St Helens.
Detective Inspector Guy Biggar, of the Force’s Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “We welcome the verdicts reached by the jury at Exeter Crown Court today.
“Our thoughts are with Denva Smith’s family, and I would like to thank them for their support and immense strength throughout this investigation and trial.
“We will now await the sentencing of the five defendants and will be able to comment further when this has taken place.”