Man admits killing Amazon driver 'dragged while stopping van theft'

A 32-year-old man has admitted killing an Amazon delivery driver who died after he was dragged along the road for half a mile while attempting to stop his van from being stolen in Leeds.

Mark Ross admitted the manslaughter of Claudiu-Carol Kondor when he appeared at Leeds Crown Court by video-link from prison on Friday, but he denied murder.

Ross, of Conference Road, Armley, Leeds, is due to go on trial for Mr Kondor's murder on March 4 next year.

He was remanded in custody by Judge Richard Mansell KC.

Mr Kondor, 42, from Sheffield, was pronounced dead at the scene in Heights Drive, Wortley, on August 20 after his silver Ford Transit Cargo van was stolen in Alliance Street while he was making a delivery.

Ross appeared from Leeds Prison, sitting at a table and wearing a Nike sweatshirt for the 15-minute hearing.

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Amazon driver dragged to death trying to stop thieves stealing van 'paid high price', inquest hears

The judge said a pre-trial review hearing would be held on February 7.

Mr Kondor is understood to have been delivering for Amazon at the time of the incident, but was employed by a company called SP Transport Group.

The firm described him as 'more than just a colleague - he was a friend, a confidant and a valued member of our team'.

Two other people were arrested in connection with the incident.

A 24-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of murder was released on bail pending further inquiries.

A woman, who was arrested at the same time on suspicion of assisting an offender, was released under investigation.

Last Friday, an inquest into his death was opened and adjourned at Wakefield Coroners' Court by senior coroner Kevin McLoughlin.

Mr McLoughlin described Mr Kondor, from Sheffield, as a 'valued citizen' who suffered a 'violent and unnatural death'.

The coroner described the driver's efforts to prevent the crime on August 20 as 'commendable', before ruing his death at the scene in Wortley, a suburb of the West Yorkshire city. 

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.

He described Mr Kondor, from Sheffield, was 'a Romanian gentleman who was contributing to society', adding: '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.'

He said his cause of death was head and chest injuries. 

The coroner described Mr Kondor's death as 'heartbreaking' and added: 'My heartfelt sympathies go out to Mr Kondor's family.'

No members of Mr Kondor's family were in court for the short hearing and the inquest was adjourned to a date to be fixed.

Mr Kondor was delivering a parcel in Alliance Street at 6.45pm when he is said to have returned to see a man jumping into his vehicle.

He tried to stop the thief by getting into the van himself, but the suspect is accused of driving away at speed, dragging the driver for half a mile as he desperately hung out of the door.

The silver Ford Transit Cargo then smashed into two parked cars, around half a mile away.

As Mr Kondor lay dying in the street, the thief is alleged to have driven off, and abandoned the vehicle six miles away in Heights Drive.

The driver, who delivered Amazon parcels through a third party courier, was found seriously injured at the scene shortly before 7pm.

Officers attended and found the victim unconscious with members of the public trying to help him.

Mr Kondor was given emergency treatment by ambulance staff but was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later, with police launching a murder inquiry.

Police later found the van around six miles away from the scene of the attack, in Highlands Walk, Belle Isle.