Thief found guilty of murdering delivery driver who tried to stop him taking van

A thief has been found guilty of murdering an Amazon delivery driver who was trying to stop his van from being stolen.

Claudiu Carol-Kondor, 42, had been clinging onto the van for half-a-mile when Mark Ross, who had climbed in while he was out delivering a parcel, deliberately crashed into a stationary Mini to knock him from the vehicle.

Leeds Crown Court heard Ross hit speeds of almost 60mph on residential streets and swerved erratically from side to side before hitting two parked cars, all in an effort to “get rid” of Mr Kondor as he hung onto the van from the open passenger door.

Mr Kondor died from head and chest injuries from the second crash, the court heard.

Ross had pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but denied murdering Mr Kondor, claiming he was unaware of him hanging onto the van and that speed bumps had caused him to lose control of the vehicle.

On Wednesday, a jury of 11 at Leeds Crown Court found Ross guilty of murder by a majority of 10 to 1.

Jurors heard Mr Kondor was delivering parcels for Amazon in the Armley area of Leeds on August 20 last year using his own silver Transit van – which was full of parcels he had collected from an Amazon depot.

While he was away from his vehicle delivering a parcel, Ross, who lived nearby, climbed into the driver’s seat and started to drive the van away, the court heard.

Prosecutor John Harrison KC said: “The evidence suggests Mr Kondor tried to stop him by opening the front nearside passenger door of the van and attempting to climb in.

“Unfortunately his actions did not prevent the defendant from driving away, with Mr Kondor hanging on to his van.”

CCTV footage played in court showed Mr Kondor hanging onto the moving van through an open door as Ross drove away along Wingate Road.

“It appears Mr Kondor did not wish to or perhaps could not let go of his van, he did not want the defendant simply to steal it,” Mr Harrison said.

Witnesses described Mr Kondor’s legs dragging on the ground as he clung onto the inside of the open door, with one woman saying she heard him shouting “Help”.

Mr Harrison told jurors: “After speeding and swerving failed to get rid of Mr Kondor, the defendant deliberately drove into collision with two parked cars.”

He said Ross “deliberately” turned the steering wheel of the van towards a black car parked on the side of the road, and when that did not knock Mr Kondor free from the van, he “tried again”.

“The second collision was with a blue car which caused damage to the van, to the parked car and most significantly, caused fatal head and chest injuries to Mr Kondor,” Mr Harrison said.

The court heard after driving away, Ross met up with some other people and the contents of the van were removed.

In his closing speech, Mr Harrison said Ross showed a “complete disregard and even contempt” for Mr Kondor’s life.

He said the “career criminal” must have realised Mr Kondor, who was wearing a high-viz jacket, was there, but made the choice that the driver was “expendable”.

Ross, of Conference Road, Armley, told the jury how he had been a daily cannabis user since he was a child and had been out buying drugs and cigarette papers when he came across the van with no driver.

He said: “It wasn’t ’til I got the van I saw it was unattended, and keys were in it, and the engine was running.”

Ross said: “I basically jumped in it and drove it off.”

His barrister Simon Kealey KC asked him: “Were you ever aware of anyone on the passenger side of the vehicle, on the door on the outside.”

He said: “No.”

Ross said he later found out about the death of Mr Kondor through the internet.

He admitted stealing vans previously, but said he had “never been involved in anything like this before”,  adding “I would have stopped the van and run off if I had known he was there”.

Ross is due to be sentenced on Friday.

Opening an inquest into his death last year, senior coroner Kevin McLoughlin said Mr Kondor was “a Romanian gentleman who was contributing to society”.

He added: “He was here, he was working hard, when he found someone stealing his vehicle.

“He’s commendably tried to prevent the crime taking place but he’s paid an immensely high price for this.”

Mr Kondor, who lived in Sheffield, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was employed by a company called SP Transport Group, who described him after his death as “more than just a colleague — he was a friend, a confidant and a valued member of our team”.

His family listened to the verdict via a video link to court.

Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “Claudiu was a decent, hard-working man, and it’s clear he was determined not to let Ross take his livelihood. For half-a-mile he bravely clung to the open door as Ross swerved the van around at speed before deliberately crashing, leaving him fatally injured.

“Claudiu came to the UK from Romania to make a better life for himself. He was described by his work colleagues as being not just a dedicated and valued member of their team but a friend and a confidant. He was also a familiar friendly face to the many people he delivered to.

“His partner, who had also come to the UK for work, has since returned to Romania now seeing no future here. She and Claudiu’s family have been left utterly devastated by his death.

“It is truly heart-breaking that the life of an honest hard-working man has been snatched away by the cruel and callous actions of Mark Ross.”

An Amazon spokesperson said: “Our thoughts remain with Claudiu’s family, friends and colleagues, who have all endured an unimaginable ordeal. We hope the conclusion of this court case brings some sense of justice and closure to everyone affected.”