Armindo Joaquin Pacula, the 25-year-old Mozambican man accused of killing South African media personality Warrick “DJ Warras” Stock, has abandoned his application for bail and indicated that he may pursue a plea agreement with prosecutors. Pacula made this decision public during his second court appearance at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 9 February 2026, amid concerns for his safety while in custody.
Pacula’s legal representative informed the court that his client had decided to withdraw his bail application. The defence also mentioned that Pacula is considering entering into a plea deal with the prosecution, although no formal agreement has yet been finalised. At the hearing, it was revealed that Pacula fears for his life if held in Johannesburg Correctional Centre — commonly known as Sun City Prison. He claims to have been told that individuals who were involved in the killing of his friend are also incarcerated there, heightening his concern that he could be targeted.
State prosecutor Vincent Mochabela confirmed in court that arrangements had been made to transfer Pacula from Sun City Prison to Modderbee Correctional Centre in Benoni, Ekurhuleni, for his own safety. The court postponed the matter to 11 February, when Pacula is expected to appear alongside his co-accused, Victor Mthethwa Majola.
Pacula faces serious charges, including premeditated murder, conspiracy to commit murder and contravention of the Immigration Act. During earlier proceedings, it emerged that Pacula may be in South Africa without the proper documentation, and the court ordered verification of his immigration status and address before moving further with bail considerations.
His co-accused, 44-year-old Victor Majola, has already had his bail application denied by the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court. Majola faces the same charges of premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with DJ Warras’s killing, which occurred on 16 December 2025 outside a building near Johannesburg’s Carlton Centre in the central business district.
Majola’s bail denial was based on several factors, including concerns over his multiple addresses, the possibility that he might interfere with witnesses, and the seriousness of the charges. Prosecutors presented evidence linking him to the case, including cellphone data and CCTV footage, although some of the defence’s attempts to introduce fresh surveillance material were challenged in court.
The murder of DJ Warras has shocked the Johannesburg entertainment community and drawn attention to violent crime in the city. Stock, a well-known radio and television presenter and founder of a VIP protection company, had been involved in a dispute at Zambezi Flats over security management, which investigators believe may have been linked to his killing.
Stock was buried on 23 December 2025, and the investigation into his death has continued to unfold in court. With Pacula’s bail bid now dropped and the possibility of a plea agreement on the horizon, the case is entering a critical new phase as both accused men prepare for further legal proceedings.
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