Man Charged with Murder of Delivery Driver in Leeds Appears in Court

A 32-year-old man accused of murdering a parcel delivery driver in Leeds appeared in court on Friday. Mark Ross, from Armley, Leeds, was charged with the murder of 42-year-old Claudiu-Carol Kondor, who died while trying to prevent his van from being stolen.

During the brief two-minute hearing at Leeds Magistrates’ Court, Ross did not enter a plea. Dressed in a grey prison tracksuit, he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, and address. The court was informed that the alleged murder occurred on August 20. Ross has been remanded in custody and will appear next at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday.

The tragic incident took place on Tuesday evening in the Heights Drive area of Wortley. West Yorkshire Police launched a murder investigation after Kondor was found injured on the street. Despite efforts from passersby and ambulance personnel, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the police, Kondor’s silver Ford Transit Cargo van was stolen while he was making a delivery on Alliance Street, about half a mile away from where he was found. The van was later discovered abandoned several miles away.

Mike Neill, the operations manager at SP Transport Group, where Kondor was employed, expressed the company’s grief over the loss. “This unimaginable loss has left us all devastated. Claudiu was more than just a colleague; he was a friend, a confidant, and a valued member of our team. His commitment to his work and the camaraderie he brought to the workplace will never be forgotten,” Neill said.

In support of Kondor’s family, Neill has set up a GoFundMe page, which has already raised over £21,000.

Kondor had been delivering parcels for Amazon, which contracts delivery companies like SP Transport Group to fulfill customer orders. An Amazon spokesperson expressed condolences, stating, “This is a terrible incident, and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the delivery driver’s loved ones, family, and colleagues at our delivery service provider. We will do all that we can to assist police with their investigations.”

In connection with the case, a 24-year-old man was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of murder and remains in custody. A woman arrested at the same time on suspicion of assisting an offender has been released under investigation.