Man Convicted of Murdering Amazon Driver in Van Theft
Mark Ross has been found guilty of murdering an Amazon delivery driver who tried to stop his van from being stolen. The incident occurred on Wingate Road in the Armley area of Leeds.
The victim, Claudiu Carol-Kondor, 42, was clinging to the outside of the van for approximately half a mile after Ross, who had entered the vehicle while Kondor was making a delivery, began driving it away. Leeds Crown Court heard that Ross deliberately crashed the van into a parked Mini, reaching speeds of almost 60mph on residential streets. He swerved erratically before colliding with two parked cars in an effort to dislodge Kondor, who was holding onto the passenger door.
Mr. Kondor died from head and chest injuries sustained in the second crash, the court was told. Ross had admitted to manslaughter, but denied the murder charge, claiming he was unaware that Kondor was hanging onto the van and that he lost control due to speed bumps.
On Wednesday, a jury of eleven at Leeds Crown Court reached a majority verdict of 10 to 1, finding Ross guilty of murder.
During the trial, the jury heard how Mr. Kondor was delivering packages for Amazon on August 20 of last year using his silver Transit van, which was loaded with parcels he had collected from an Amazon depot. While delivering a package, Ross, who lived nearby, entered the driver’s seat and drove the van away.
Prosecutor John Harrison KC stated, “The evidence suggests Mr. Kondor attempted to stop him by opening the front nearside passenger door of the van and trying to climb in.”
CCTV footage shown in court displayed Kondor hanging onto the moving van by the open door as Ross drove along Wingate Road. Harrison added, “It appears Mr. Kondor did not want to or perhaps could not let go of his van; he did not want the defendant simply to steal it.”
Witnesses recounted seeing Mr. Kondor’s legs dragging on the ground as he held onto the open door. One witness stated that they heard him shouting for help.
Mr. Harrison told the jurors that after failed attempts to dislodge Kondor through speeding and swerving, “the defendant deliberately drove into collision with two parked cars.” He asserted that Ross “deliberately” turned the steering wheel of the van into a parked black car, and when that did not dislodge Mr. Kondor, 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 that after abandoning the van, Ross met up with some other individuals, who removed the contents of the van.
In his closing statement, Mr. Harrison stated that Ross had shown a “complete disregard and even contempt” for Mr. Kondor’s life. He continued that Ross, a “career criminal,” must have been aware of Mr. Kondor, who was wearing a high-visibility jacket, and made the deliberate choice that the driver was “expendable.”
Ross, of Conference Road, Armley, testified that he had been a daily cannabis user since childhood. He said he was out buying drugs and cigarette papers when he came across the van with no driver. He stated, “It wasn’t ‘til I got the van I saw it was unattended, and keys were in it, and the engine was running.”
His barrister, Simon Kealey KC, asked Ross, ”Were you ever aware of anyone on the passenger side of the vehicle, on the door on the outside?” Ross answered, “No.” Ross said he subsequently became aware of Mr. Kondor’s death through the internet.
He acknowledged having stolen vans before, 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 scheduled for sentencing on Friday.
Opening an inquest into his death last year, senior coroner Kevin McLoughlin described Mr. Kondor as “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 lived in Sheffield and was pronounced dead at the scene. He was employed by 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 followed the verdict via video link.
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 stated, “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.”
