Rapper found guilty of killing YouTube star after music video shoot in Epping
30-year-old Stephen Morrisson was stabbed in the chest after he disrupted filming, which featured snakes and a Komodo dragon
A gangster rapper has been found guilty of killing a social media star after he disrupted a music video shoot featuring big snakes and a Komodo dragon.
The victim Stephen Morrisson, known as Zero Ls, had regularly posted content on Snapchat and YouTube before he was fatally stabbed in Epping, Essex, six years ago.
The 30-year-old was also known for his appearances on his rapper brother Morrisson’s music videos making the sign of a zero and L, standing for zero losses.
On June 23 2020, he stumbled into a music video shoot organised by drill rappers Ellis Heather and Yonas Girma.
He irritated the filming crew, hit his head on a tree and appeared to drive at them, forcing them to jump out of the way, before being fatally stabbed in the chest.
Afterwards, Heather partied with friends and laughed as they listened to music by the victim’s brother, who has enjoyed success in the UK singles and R&B charts.
Heather went on to rap about the murder with the lyrics: ‘OL got wet and he’s dead (wet, wet, wet, wet),” jurors were told. Heather, 26, known as Rackz, from Slough, Berkshire, and Girma, 29, known as Yosh, from Feltham, north London, had denied being involved in the fatal stabbing.
A jury at the Old Bailey found Heather guilty of murder and cleared Mr Girma of wrongdoing.
Members of Mr Morrisson’s family who sat in court throughout the trial burst into tears as the guilty verdict was given.
Jurors in the trial were not told about Heather’s membership of the west London gang CGM.
He was remanded into custody to be sentenced on July 17.
Previously, the court heard how both men had been involved in “carefully planned” arrangements for filming a music video.
A videographer, technical assistants, models and extras were assembled as well as live reptiles to be used as “props” in the video.
The group of men and women had converged on two filming locations in Essex, including the Wake Valley car park, where their paths crossed with Mr Morrisson in a Vauxhall Corsa.
At 7.34pm, one of the women in the filming group was pictured posing with a large snake draped around her neck.
Minutes later, Mr Morrisson was fatally stabbed and the defendants left the area.
Days after his death, a woman who had been on the video shoot called 999 to report she had heard Heather was responsible.
In May 2024, she provided a detailed account saying Mr Morrisson had appeared “weird” and “very loud”, at one point banging his head on a large tree, she said.
He went on to “drive at” members of the group, forcing them to jump back with the defendants – who she knew as Yosh and Rackz – at the front.
The witness, who had a brief relationship with Heather, recalled that Mr Morrisson appeared to be drunk and had done a “couple of circles” of a tree before driving towards them.
She said the victim appeared as if he was going to run them over or “scare them” but braked hard and fast.
The defendants were said to be “confused” and “angry” about what happened, jurors heard.
Heather swung his arm towards Mr Morrisson, although the witness did not see a knife, the court heard.
As he drove away, bare-chested Mr Morrisson had blood dripping down his neck, the jury was told.
The woman later travelled with Heather to a rural area where it was alleged he disposed of the murder weapon and then threw a blood-stained cloth from the car.
Going at speeds of up to 70mph, he became ill, told her to take the wheel and was sick out of the window, she said.
Asked why he was feeling ill, he told the woman “this is my first M”, said to be slang for murder.
Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood, from Essex Police, said: “Today’s verdict finally delivers justice for Stephen and his family, almost six years after his life was so tragically taken.
“They have shown immense strength and patience as this case has progressed – often away from the public view – and our thoughts remain firmly with them today.
“This investigation has presented significant challenges and required the dedication of many officers and staff to ensure the truth was uncovered.”
Mr Wood added: “This work began on the evening of June 23 2020, and so many officers and staff played a part in this, some of whom have since left the force, and I would particularly like to pay tribute to their hard work and their tireless dedication to securing justice for Stephen’s loving family.
“While no outcome can undo what has happened, we hope this verdict provides them with some sense of closure and they can move forward knowing those responsible for Stephen’s death have been held to account.”