Denva Smith had 'beef' with his alleged killers
13:46, 15 Jan 2026
A 24-year-old Exmouth man was chased and fatally stabbed by a gang of men in a bloody revenge attack, a murder trial has been told. Denva Smith died in the garden of a property in Ashfield Close on May 31, 2025.
Moments earlier he had been stabbed through the arm while trying to run away. The knife severed a major artery and he bled to death after collapsing. Neighbours heard his shouts for help and called 999 but paramedics could not save him.
The trial of five men at Exeter Crown Court has heard there was 'beef' between Denva Smith and the men accused of killing him. The attack was described as 'spur of the moment' but there was a background of drugs and previous violence.
Zac Davies, 23, of Hawthorn Grove, Exmouth; Dylan Chadwick, 23, of Cambourne Avenue, St Helens; Ben Mason, 23, of no fixed abode, Exmouth, Thomas Ward, 24, of Russell Walk, Exeter and Ben Helliker, 26, of Halsdon Road in Exmouth have all pleaded not guilty to murder.
Prosecutor James Dawes KC told the jury: "The prosecution case is that the five men who chased and joined the attack on Denva Smith are these five defendants.
"Our submission to you is that the evidence is consistent with the five of them acting together as past of a joint plan or agreement to cause Denva Smith at least really serious harm."
Mr Dawes was outlining the prosecution case on the first day of the trial. He said the fatal stabbing happened at 12:36am.
Shortly after midnight Denva and a friend were seen on CCTV leaving a property on Cheshire Road. As they approached a pedestrian crossing on Dinan Way they encountered Denva's alleged killers walking in the opposite direction.
"Denva left Dinan Way and jumped over the crash barrier and went down the slope into a grassy area and garages in Hawthorn Grove," said the prosecutor. "The group of five followed and chased him. Somewhere at the bottom of that slope Denva was attacked."
It was a summer's evening and Denva was wearing Giorgio Armani sliders and socks which were unsuitable for running, the prosecution say. He lost the sliders as he ran. It is alleged his killers picked them up after the stabbing and tried to dispose of them in a bin.
After being stabbed Denva ran along the residential street into Ashfield Close, a cul-de-sac a short distance away. The jury was shown drone footage of the area taken by police during their murder investigation.
"After he was stabbed he ran up Hawthorn Grove until he gets to Ashfield Close where he ran down," said Mr Dawes. "Denva, without shoes, ran and he was chased as he ran. The chasers were hot on his heels and shouting."
It is claimed one of the killers shouted 'Get him lad."
"Denva Smith, having been stabbed, burst through a garden gate and went into a garden at the dead end and he died next to a boat in that garden," added the prosecutor.
Denva bled as he ran, spraying blood onto cars and railings. He collapsed in the garden, yelling for help.
The house belonged to an elderly man who called 999, as did neighbours, who were woken by the shouting.
Paramedics arrived about 22 minutes after the stabbing and found Denva barely conscious and bleeding heavily. Despite their best efforts he was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:40am.
The knife had entered below the elbow and gone right through the arm, severing his radial artery.
It is alleged that after the attack the five men walked back to a nearby address. Police started making arrests at 3am. Three of the defendants, Mason, Davies and Chadwick had Denva's blood on their clothing, it is alleged.
The prosecution case relies on CCTV, audio, phone messages and a background of animosity between Denva and his alleged killers.
Mr Dawes said Ben Mason 'had beef' with Denva. The pair had a fight eight days before and messages indicated he had vowed revenge. The pair had met in Exmouth town centre about three hours before the fatal stabbing, the prosecutor said.
Zac Davies is said to have described Denva as a 'maggot'. There was also evidence the men planned to rob him of a cocaine.
"They variously had reason to dislike or attack Denva that night," said Mr Dawes.
The trial continues.