The case of drill rapper Ellis Heather has drawn widespread attention in the United Kingdom after he was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of social media personality Stephen Morrisson, better known as “Zero Ls.” The fatal stabbing took place during what was supposed to be a professionally organized music video shoot in Essex in June 2020, but the incident turned into a violent confrontation that claimed the life of the 30-year-old content creator.
Years later, following a lengthy police investigation and a trial at the Old Bailey, Heather was convicted of murder and ordered to serve a minimum of 28 years behind bars before becoming eligible for parole. The case became even more shocking after prosecutors revealed that Heather later referenced the killing in his own rap lyrics, while witnesses described his actions in the aftermath of the attack and the efforts allegedly made to dispose of evidence. The sentencing has brought an end to a six-year legal process that left Stephen Morrisson’s family searching for justice while raising broader questions about violence and accountability.
Who Is Ellis Heather and What Happened During the Music Video Shoot?
Ellis Heather, 26, is a drill rapper from Slough, Berkshire, who performed under the stage name “Rackz.” Before his conviction, he was involved in creating drill music videos alongside fellow rapper Yonas Girma, known professionally as “Yosh.” On June 23, 2020, the pair organized what prosecutors described as a carefully planned music video production in Essex. The shoot involved a professional videographer, technical assistants, models, extras, and several live reptiles used as visual props, including snakes and even a Komodo dragon. The production moved between two filming locations, with one of the key locations being Wake Valley car park in Epping.
Stephen Morrisson, who was widely recognized on social media as “Zero Ls,” unexpectedly crossed paths with the production crew that evening. Morrisson had built his own online following through appearances in music videos featuring his brother, the British rapper Morrisson, and had become known for making a distinctive “zero losses” hand gesture that inspired his nickname. His appearances had made him a familiar face among fans of UK rap and urban music, even though he was not directly involved in the filming taking place that day.
According to evidence presented during the trial, Morrisson’s behavior at the scene became increasingly erratic. Witnesses later described him as acting loudly and strangely while appearing to be under the influence of alcohol. At one stage, he reportedly struck his head against a tree and continued behaving unpredictably around members of the production crew. Prosecutors said his actions irritated those involved in the filming, creating tension between Morrisson and several people present at the location.
The situation escalated further when Morrisson entered his Vauxhall Corsa and allegedly drove toward members of the film crew. Witnesses testified that people had to jump backwards to avoid the vehicle, believing he intended either to frighten them or potentially strike them before he braked sharply. The defendants, Heather and Girma, were reportedly standing near the front of the group when the vehicle approached, leaving them angry and confused by what had just happened.
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Moments later, the confrontation turned fatal. Witnesses recalled seeing Heather swing his arm toward Morrisson, although they did not initially realize a knife had been used. As Morrisson drove away from the scene, blood could be seen running down his neck and chest. He had suffered a stab wound to the chest that proved fatal. Emergency responders were unable to save him, and what had begun as a planned music video production ended with the death of a well-known social media figure.
Throughout the investigation, Heather and Girma denied involvement in the stabbing. However, after hearing the evidence, an Old Bailey jury found Heather guilty of murder while acquitting Girma of any wrongdoing. The verdict established Heather as solely responsible for the fatal attack that ended Stephen Morrisson’s life.
The Investigation, Witness Testimony, and Evidence That Led to Conviction
The investigation into Stephen Morrisson’s murder lasted several years before finally reaching trial. Detectives pieced together witness statements, forensic evidence, and events that unfolded immediately after the stabbing to build their case against Heather. One of the most significant breakthroughs came only days after Morrisson’s death, when a woman who had attended the music video shoot contacted emergency services.
The woman initially called 999 to report that she had heard Heather was responsible for the stabbing. Several years later, in May 2024, she provided investigators with a much more detailed statement describing everything she had witnessed on the day of the attack. Her testimony became a central part of the prosecution’s case.
According to her evidence, Morrisson had been behaving unusually throughout the encounter. She described him as “very loud” and acting strangely before banging his head against a tree. She also recounted how he repeatedly drove around the area before steering his vehicle toward members of the filming group, forcing people to move out of the way. While she believed he may have been trying to scare them rather than deliberately run them over, the incident dramatically heightened tensions among everyone present.
She testified that following the confrontation involving the vehicle, Heather appeared angry before swinging his arm toward Morrisson. Although she did not actually see a knife, the sequence of events matched the fatal injury later discovered on the victim. The witness further explained that after leaving the scene, she travelled with Heather into a rural area where she alleged he disposed of the murder weapon. During that journey, she claimed Heather threw a blood-stained cloth from the vehicle before becoming physically ill.
According to her testimony, Heather was driving at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour when he suddenly became sick and asked her to take control of the vehicle. While vomiting from the car window, he allegedly admitted that “this is my first M,” with prosecutors explaining that “M” was slang for murder. That statement became one of the most damaging pieces of evidence presented during the trial because it suggested Heather himself acknowledged responsibility for the killing shortly after it occurred.
The prosecution also highlighted Heather’s behavior after the incident, arguing that it demonstrated a lack of remorse. Rather than distancing himself from the events, he reportedly spent time celebrating with friends in the days following the stabbing. Evidence presented to jurors showed that Heather and his associates laughed while listening to music performed by Morrisson’s brother, adding another deeply painful element for the victim’s grieving family.
Perhaps the most controversial evidence involved Heather’s own music. Prosecutors told jurors that after Stephen Morrisson’s death, Heather recorded lyrics referencing the killing. One line presented in court stated: “OL got wet and he’s dead,” with “OL” referring to Zero Ls, Morrisson’s nickname. In UK street slang, “wet” is commonly used as a reference to stabbing. Prosecutors argued that the lyric effectively celebrated the killing and reflected Heather’s attitude toward the crime.
Taken together, the witness testimony, post-offence conduct, alleged admissions, and other supporting evidence convinced jurors beyond reasonable doubt that Heather was responsible for Stephen Morrisson’s murder. After deliberating, they convicted him of murder while clearing Yonas Girma of any criminal responsibility.
Life Sentence, Family’s Emotional Statement, and the End of a Six-Year Search for Justice
At the Old Bailey, Judge Nigel Lickley KC sentenced Ellis Heather to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 28 years. The sentence means Heather must spend at least 28 years in custody before becoming eligible to apply for parole, although release is not guaranteed and would depend upon future decisions by the Parole Board.
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For Stephen Morrisson’s family, the sentencing marked the conclusion of more than six years of grief, uncertainty, and court proceedings. During the hearing, Morrisson’s mother, Lorraine, delivered an emotional victim impact statement on behalf of the family that highlighted the devastating personal consequences of the murder.
She described Stephen not simply as a social media personality but as a beloved son, brother, father, and uncle whose absence continues to affect every member of the family. She explained that they work every day to preserve his memory so that his young son, nieces, and nephews will continue to know who he was despite his life being cut tragically short. Her statement reflected the lasting emotional impact of violent crime, emphasizing that memories are now all the family has left of Stephen.
Following the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood, who led the investigation, acknowledged the extraordinary patience shown by Morrisson’s loved ones throughout the lengthy legal process. He stated that they had endured unimaginable pain while waiting years for those responsible to be held accountable. Wood expressed hope that the court’s decision would provide at least some measure of peace and reassurance that justice had finally been achieved after an exhaustive investigation.
The Crown Prosecution Service also reflected on the wider significance of the case. Specialist prosecutor Samantha Woolley stated that Stephen Morrisson’s death demonstrated the devastating consequences that violence can have on families and communities. She praised the dignity displayed by Morrisson’s relatives throughout the proceedings and expressed hope that the sentencing would help bring them some degree of comfort despite their profound loss.
The conviction also closes one of the more unusual murder cases heard in recent years, involving a professionally organized music video production complete with models, technical crews, exotic reptiles, and performers before descending into fatal violence. What had been arranged as a promotional filming session instead became the setting for a murder investigation that lasted years and ultimately resulted in a life sentence.
Ellis Heather’s conviction now stands as the final legal outcome of the events that unfolded on June 23, 2020. Once known in drill music circles under the name Rackz, he will instead be remembered for the murder conviction that brought an abrupt end to his music career. For Stephen Morrisson’s family, however, the court proceedings were never about the defendant’s future but about securing accountability for the death of a man they continue to remember as a devoted father, son, brother, and uncle whose life ended during a chance encounter at a music video shoot.