A jury heard details of a fatal incident in Leeds where an Amazon delivery driver was killed while trying to stop the theft of his van. According to the prosecution, the suspect in the case deliberately crashed into parked vehicles in an effort to remove the driver, who was clinging to the van.
The incident took place on August 20 of the previous year. Claudiu Carol-Kondor, 42, was delivering packages in the Armley area when Mark Ross, 32, entered the driver’s seat of the van. John Harrison KC, the prosecutor, explained that the victim was making a delivery when Ross took control of the vehicle.
“The evidence suggests Mr. Kondor tried to stop him by opening the front nearside passenger door of the van and attempting to climb in,” Harrison stated. However, Ross began driving the van away. Mr. Kondor attempted to stop him by clinging to the vehicle.
CCTV footage presented in court showed Mr. Kondor hanging onto the moving van through an open door as Ross drove away. The prosecutor emphasized that Mr. Kondor’s actions showed he did not want the defendant to steal the van.
Ross reportedly drove at speeds nearing 60mph on residential streets, swerving erratically, according to the prosecution. After those maneuvers failed to dislodge Mr. Kondor, Ross then purposely drove into two parked cars. Harrison told jurors that Ross “deliberately” steered the van into a parked black car. “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,” the prosecutor said.
Ross has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murdering Mr. Kondor. He claims he was unaware the driver was clinging to the van. The prosecution disputes this, arguing that Ross would have been aware of the victim due to the open door and the driver’s presence. “Why did the defendant drive so quickly and erratically, weaving from side to side, unless he was trying to get rid of an unwanted passenger?” Harrison questioned. The trial continues.
