Annapolis Valley man convicted of accessory charges in 2020 homicide

An Annapolis Valley man has been found guilty of several charges related to a homicide, but not for the killing itself. Devyn Adam Dennis was convicted of breaking and entering, committing an indignity to human remains, and arson in a decision delivered last Friday by Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice Jamie Campbell.

The charges stem from the killing of Robert Campbell, whose charred remains were found in a burned-out van near the St. Croix exit of Highway 101 on May 24, 2020. The medical examiner determined that Campbell had died from a single gunshot wound before the van was set on fire.

Justice Jamie Campbell wrote in his decision, “The answer to the question of who killed Robert Campbell remains unknown. This case will not provide an answer to that.”

During Dennis’s trial, evidence showed that he and two other men drove to a residence on Ridge Road near Wolfville, N.S., on the evening of May 23, 2020. One of the other men was Robert Campbell. The men were going to the residence because they had discovered that a drug purchase they made earlier was mostly sugar.

Upon entering the residence, Robert Campbell was shot almost immediately. However, there was not enough evidence to establish who pulled the trigger. There was conflicting evidence about how Campbell’s body was removed from the residence, placed in the van, and driven to the spot where it was set on fire.

Robert Campbell’s friend, Darroll Atwell, pleaded guilty to charges related to burning the body and the van, as well as breaking into the crack house. Dennis’s conviction for breaking and entering also relates to kicking in the door to the residence that night. The charges of arson and indignity to human remains are connected to the burning of Campbell’s body.

Dennis was also charged with obstruction for hiding the rifle believed to have been used in the murder in the woods, where it was later recovered by police. However, the judge ruled that there was not enough evidence to tie Dennis to the gun.

The case has seen many twists and turns, including a failed attempt to have the charges dismissed due to delays and the removal of a defense lawyer before the trial.

This tragic case highlights the complexity of criminal investigations and the challenges of determining guilt in cases where evidence is scarce and conflicting. The search for justice continues as the mystery of who killed Robert Campbell remains unsolved.