Man admits killing Amazon delivery driver on Leeds street, but denies murder
A man will stand trial charged with murdering an Amazon delivery driver in Leeds.
Mark Ross made a brief appearance at Leeds Crown Court this morning where he entered a plea of not-guilty. However, he has admitted killing Claudiu-Carol Kondor died in Wortley last month, and has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
It was reported that Mr Kondor had tried to stop suspects stealing his van when he got out to make a parcel drop.
Ross, of Conference Road, Armley was not present in court but appeared via video link from HMP Leeds where he is being held on remand. His trial date has been fixed for March 4 next year. He was remanded back into custody.
Meanwhile, a 24-year-old man who was also arrested on suspicion of Mr Kondor’s murder was released on bail pending further inquiries and a woman, who was arrested at the same time on suspicion of assisting an offender, was released under investigation.
Ross, 32, is also facing a second charge relating to theft from a vehicle in Warwickshire in April of this year, which he admitted, along with the second defendant, 48-year-old Wayne Cordingley of Broom Terrace, Belle Isle. Cordingley is expected to be sentenced in early October.
An inquest into the death of Mr Kondor, who lived in Sheffield, was recently opened at Wakefield Coroner’s Court.
The 42-year-old had been found found dead on Heights Drive in Wortley on the evening of August 20. It came after his silver Ford Transit Cargo van was stolen in Alliance Street when he was making a delivery, police said.
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.”
The coroner said this was the “violent and unnatural death of a valued citizen”.
Mr McLoughlin gave very brief details of how Mr Kondor found someone “endeavouring to steal his vehicle” and was injured as he tried to intervene.
The coroner said his cause of death was head and chest injuries.
He described Mr Kondor’s death as “heartbreaking” and added: “My heartfelt sympathies go out to Mr Kondor’s family.”