Ellis Heather: Rapper sentenced for murdering social media star Stephen Morrisson at Essex music video shoot

The rapper who killed a social media star during a music video shoot and later rapped about the murder has been sentenced to at least 28 years in prison.

Drill rapper Ellis Heather was found guilty of murdering Stephen Morrisson, known as Zero Ls, in Epping, Essex.

Mr Morrisson, 30, had stumbled upon a shooting organized by Heather and fellow rapper Yonas Girma on June 23, 2020.

The shoot was carefully planned and featured models, extras and numerous live reptiles, including snakes and a Komodo dragon.

He angered the film crew, hitting his head against a tree and appearing to head towards them before being fatally stabbed in the chest.

Afterwards, Heather partied with friends and laughed as they listened to the music of the victim’s brother, Morrisson, who had success in the UK singles and R&B charts.

The victim was known for making the zero and L sign in Morrisson’s music videos, representing zero loss.

Heather continued rapping about the murder with the lyrics: ‘OL [Zero Ls] He got wet and died (wet, wet, wet, wet),” jurors were told.

Heather, 26, known as Rackz, from Slough, Berkshire, and Mr Girma, 29, known as Yosh, from Feltham, north London, denied involvement in the fatal stabbing.

A jury at the Old Bailey had previously found Heather guilty of murder and cleared Mr Girma of the crime.

In the same court on Friday, Judge Nigel Lickley KC sentenced Heather to life in prison with a minimum term of 28 years, court officials said.

In a statement read on behalf of his family, Stephen Morrisson’s mother Lorraine said: “Steve was a son, a brother, a father and an uncle. “Every day we try to keep his memory alive so that his little boy, his nephews and nieces will never forget him, because memories are all we have left now.

The hearing heard Heather and Mr Girma were involved in “carefully planned” arrangements for the filming of a music video.

A cameraman, technical assistants, models and extras, as well as live reptiles, were assembled to be used as “props” in the video.

The group of men and women had met at two filming locations in Essex, including the Wake Valley car park, where they crossed paths with Mr Morrisson in his Vauxhall Corsa.

At 19.34, one of the women in the shooting group was seen posing with a large snake wrapped around her neck.

Minutes later Mr Morrisson was fatally stabbed and the defendants fled the area.

Days after her death, a woman who took part in the video footage called 999 to report that she had heard Heather was responsible.

In May 2024, she made a detailed statement saying Mr Morrisson appeared “weird” and “very loud”, at one point hitting his head against a large tree.

He continued to “pounce on” members of the group, forcing them to jump out front along with the defendants, whom he knew as Yosh and Rackz.

The witness, who had a brief relationship with Heather, recalled Mr Morrisson appearing drunk and making “a few circles” in the tree before heading towards them.

He said the victim looked as if he was going to run them over or “scare them” but braked hard and fast.

It was stated that the defendants were “confused” and “angry” about what happened.

The court heard Heather waved her arm towards Mr Morrisson, although the witness did not see a knife.

Bare-chested Mr Morrisson had blood dripping down his neck as he drove away, the jury was told.

The woman then drove with Heather to a rural area, where she allegedly disposed of the murder weapon and then threw a bloody rag from the car.

He said he got sick while driving 70 miles per hour, told her to get behind the wheel, and got sick and went out the window.

When asked why she felt sick, the woman said “this is my first M”, which was said to be slang for murder.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood said: “Today’s sentencing marks the end of a long and difficult journey towards justice for Stephen and his family.

“For more than six years, they have patiently waited for those responsible to be held accountable while they endured the unimaginable pain of losing their loved one, Stephen.

“They have shown tremendous strength throughout this investigation and court process, and I hope today’s outcome provides them with some peace of mind and reassurance that justice has been done.”

Crown Prosecution Service specialist prosecutor Samantha Woolley said: “The fatal attack on Stephen Morrisson highlights the profound impact of violence on families and communities and the unimaginable trauma it causes.

“The family is humbled and my thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.

“I hope today’s sentencing outcome will help bring some peace to those who loved Stephen.”