Johannesburg High Court Hands Down 25-Year Prison Sentence to Undocumented Mozambican Hitman Who Confessed to Killing DJ Warras for R25,000

The Johannesburg High Court has sentenced 25-year-old Undocumented Mozambican national Armindo Pacula to an effective 25 years’ imprisonment after he entered a plea and sentence agreement with the State.

Pacula admitted to murdering Warrick “DJ Warras” Stock in exchange for R25,000, bringing a significant development in the high-profile murder case.

Pacula pleaded guilty to murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and contravening the Immigration Act. The court imposed 25 years for murder, eight years for the firearm offence, six months for the ammunition offence, and 12 months for the immigration offence. The sentences will run concurrently, resulting in an effective 25-year prison term.

In the plea agreement, Pacula admitted that he fatally shot DJ Warras outside the Zambezi building in the Johannesburg CBD on 16 December 2025 after accepting payment of R25,000. The National Prosecuting Authority welcomed the conviction, saying it reinforces its commitment to holding those responsible for violent and contract killings accountable.

DJ Warras, whose real name was Warrick Stock, was a well-known South African DJ, radio and television personality, podcaster, and businessman. Meanwhile, the case against Pacula’s co-accused, Victor Majola, remains before the court and has been postponed to 17 August 2026 for the conclusion of the pre-trial conference.