Men found guilty of murdering dad-of-three

Two men have been found guilty of murder after a man was fatally stabbed in a garden.

Dad-of-three Denva Smith, 24, died from a single stab wound in May 2025 following an incident in the garden of a property in Ashfield Close, Exmouth, Devon. The jury heard he bled to death after being chased and stabbed.

Five men have been on trial at Exeter Crown Court. Three men were cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter.

Thomas Ward, 25, of Russell Walk, Exeter, and Ben Mason, 23, of no fixed abode, were convicted of murder. The five men were remanded in custody and will be sentenced in May.

Zac Davies, 23, of Hawthorn Grove, Exmouth, Dylan Chadwick, 23, of Cambourne Avenue, St Helens, Merseyside and Ben Helliker, 26, of Halsdon Road, Exmouth, were convicted of manslaughter.

Smith died in the early hours of 31 May after suffering a single wound to his arm which severed a major artery.

Smith's family said he was "a beautiful boy with a kind soul"' and a "loveable, cheeky, bubbly lad" who was a "real life Tigger character".

The prosecution said all five men acted together as part of a joint plan to cause him harm.

Ward told the court during the trial that he panicked and stabbed his former best friend because he thought he was under attack.

The judge thanked the jury for their work in an "extremely difficult and complex case".

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