Gang rapper guilty of murder at music video shoot

A gangster rapper has been convicted of murdering a content creator at a music video shoot which involved big snakes and a Komodo dragon.

Stephen Morrisson, known as Zero Ls, was stabbed after he allegedly irritated the filming crew and appeared to drive at them in Epping Forest, Essex.

The 30-year-old, who is the brother of rapper Morrisson, was unknown to his killers and died in hospital hours after the attack on 23 June 2020.

Ellis Heather, 25, from Burnham, Buckinghamshire, was convicted after a four-week trial at the Old Bailey and will be sentenced on 17 July.

It can now be reported that Heather was a member of CGM - a west London gang also known as 1011.

His co-defendant and fellow rapper, 29-year-old Yonas Girma, of Feltham, west London, was found not guilty of murdering Morrisson.

Known as Rack5, Heather was wearing a stab vest while shooting a video for a drill song and used exotic animals as props.

The stabbing happened within "a matter of minutes" of Morrisson coming across Heather in the Wake Valley Pond car park, near Loughton.

Jurors heard he made his killer "angry" by appearing to drive at members of his group, leading to a confrontation in which he was knifed.

He fled from the scene bare-chested and bloodied, and died in hospital two hours later at about 22:00 BST.

Morrisson regularly posted content on Snapchat and YouTube before he was killed.

In a statement after the jury delivered its verdict, his family said: "Our family finally has some peace. Steve got the justice he deserved.

"This doesn't take away the pain we feel of not having him with us."

Heather was initially arrested within days of the murder and remained under investigation, leading to his re-arrest and subsequent charging in July 2025.

In the intervening years, he rapped about the murder with the lyrics: "OL got wet and he's dead (wet, wet, wet, wet)."

Heather also partied after killing Morrisson, listening to music by the victim's brother, who has enjoyed success in the UK singles and R&B charts.

Essex Police said his conviction followed analysis of more than 200 hours of CCTV footage and evidence gathered from 50 phones and five vehicles.

Det Ch Insp Greg Wood, who led the investigation, said Morrisson's family showed "immense strength" and patience.

He added: "This investigation has presented significant challenges and required the dedication of many officers and staff to ensure the truth was uncovered and the individual responsible was brought before the courts."

Do you have a story suggestion? Contact us below.

Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.