A career criminal has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering a hardworking Amazon delivery driver. Mark Ross, 32, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court for the murder of Claudiu Carol Kondor, 42, who was killed trying to stop Ross from stealing his van.
In August of last year, Kondor was delivering parcels in Leeds when Ross entered his van and started to drive away. Determined to protect his livelihood, Kondor clung to the vehicle for roughly half a mile as Ross drove at speeds of up to 60mph, swerving and colliding with parked cars in an attempt to dislodge him. Kondor died from severe head and chest injuries sustained in the second crash.
Ross was found guilty of murder after pleading guilty to manslaughter. The judge, Mr. Justice Goss, stated that Kondor must have been terrified during the final moments of his life as Ross ignored his pleas to stop and drove faster, causing him immense suffering.
During the trial, the court heard that Kondor was delivering parcels for Amazon in Leeds when Ross, who lived nearby, entered the van while the driver was away from his vehicle. Kondor attempted to stop the theft by opening the passenger door and trying to get back in, but Ross drove away, with Kondor hanging onto the moving vehicle through the open door. Witnesses reported seeing Kondor with his legs dragging on the ground, and hearing his cries for help. Prosecutor John Harrison KC told the jury that after failing to dislodge Kondor by speeding and swerving, Ross deliberately drove into two parked cars.
Kondor’s fiancee, Mariana Gheorghe, provided a victim impact statement, describing Kondor as a man of integrity. She shared her heartbreak at having to return to Romania after his death. Gheorghe said Kondor had realized his dream of owning his own van just weeks before his death. She said, “Of all his jobs he liked delivering the most. He enjoyed meeting people, delivering parcels on time and correctly.” She added, “I don’t know how I will live without him; everything seems so difficult to me.” He had previously worked various jobs and volunteered to help earthquake victims. Floral tributes were left at the scene in Kondor’s memory.
Following the incident, Ross met with others and the contents of the van were removed. When addressing the jury, Harrison stated that Ross must have known Kondor was present, but chose to treat him as expendable. Ross claimed he was unaware Kondor was hanging onto the van. He received a concurrent six-month sentence for stealing cashmere jumpers from a lorry.
