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Drill Rapper Convicted of Murder Six Years After Fatal Stabbing

Ellis Heather, known as drill artist Rack5, has been found guilty of murdering Stephen Morrisson in 2020. Lyrics from one of his songs and a witness testimony from a former friend were crucial in securing the conviction.

  • Ellis Heather, also known as Rack5, was convicted of Stephen Morrisson's murder six years after the event.
  • Morrisson was fatally stabbed during the filming of a drill music video in Epping Forest.
  • Key evidence included boastful lyrics from Heather's song and testimony from a former friend.
  • Heather is already serving a sentence for firearms offences and will be sentenced for murder in July.

Ellis Heather, a 25-year-old drill artist who performed under the name Rack5, has been found guilty of murdering Stephen Morrisson after a four-week trial at the Old Bailey. The conviction comes six years after Morrisson was fatally stabbed in Epping Forest, Essex, on June 7, 2020.

The incident occurred in the Wake Valley Pond car park where Heather was filming a music video featuring large snakes and a Komodo dragon, while wearing a stab vest. Morrisson, a content creator known as Zero Ls, had been attempting to engage with the filming crew when his behaviour became erratic, including banging his head on a tree and driving towards members of the group. This reportedly angered Heather, leading to the fatal confrontation.

Morrisson sustained a serious stab wound to the torso and died in hospital approximately two hours later despite fleeing the scene bare-chested and bleeding. Initially arrested weeks after the incident along with fellow rapper Yonas Girma, charges were not brought until July 2025. Girma, who has since become a wildlife influencer, was acquitted of murder in the same trial.

A significant breakthrough in the case came five years after the murder when a friend of Heather's, who witnessed the stabbing, contacted officers and provided a full testimony. Prosecutors also presented lines from one of Heather's drill songs as evidence, arguing that the lyrics were a boastful admission of the stabbing. In the song, Heather rapped: "OL got wet and he's dead (Wet, wet, wet, wet), I see a man get stabbed and start holding his neck."

Dr Simon Harding, director of the Next Gen Centre for Gang Research, explained that 'wet' in drill terminology signifies blood, and to be 'got wet' means to be killed or bloodied. He described the repeated 'wet, wet, wet' as an onomatopoeic and emphatic way of suggesting extensive bleeding, indicating an 'overkill'. Dr Harding noted that such songs are often posted online for 'provocation' to elevate a rapper's status within their gang.

Heather is already serving a seven-year and nine-month prison sentence for firearms offences, imposed in July 2023 following a police chase in London. His gang affiliation with CGM (also known as 1011) or his identity as drill rapper Rack5 were not disclosed to the jurors in the murder trial.

Why this matters: This case highlights the complex intersection of music, gang culture, and criminal justice in the UK, demonstrating how modern forms of expression can be used as evidence in serious crime prosecutions. It also underscores the enduring impact of violence within certain subcultures.

What this means for you: What this means for you: This case contributes to the broader discussion about public safety, the influence of online content, and the effectiveness of law enforcement in tackling serious crime, particularly those with links to organised groups and cultural expressions.

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