Claudiu-Carol Kondor: Man accused of murdering Sheffield delivery driver in Leeds set to go on trial next year
A man accused of murdering a Sheffield delivery driver who died as he tried to stop his van from being stolen in Leeds is due to go on trial next year.
Mark Ross, of Conference Road, Armley, made his first appearance at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday (August 27) after being charged with killing 42-year-old Claudiu-Carol Kondor.
The 32-year-old, who appeared on a video link from prison, was not asked to enter a plea during the brief hearing.
Judge Robin Mairs set a date of March 4 for the trial, which is expected to last seven days.
The defendant was remanded in custody until his next appearance at Leeds Crown Court on September 20 for a plea and trial preparation hearing.
Mr Kondor 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.
West Yorkshire Police said a 24-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of murder last week has been released on bail pending further enquiries.
A woman, who was arrested at the same time on suspicion of assisting an offender, has been released under investigation.
Initial enquiries suggest Mr Kondor had delivered a package to an address about half a mile away in Alliance Street at about 6.45pm and had returned to his van to find a male attempting to steal it.
When he tried to stop them, they drove off at speed with the victim only partly in the passenger door of the vehicle.
Police were called at 6.51pm and found Mr Kondor seriously injured. Despite the best efforts of paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene.