R v Mark Ross

Facts

On 20 August 2024 at around 6.45 pm Claudiu Carol Kondor was delivering parcels for Amazon in the Armley area of Leeds, using his own silver transit van and wearing a high vis jacket. While he was away from the vehicle, which was parked with its engine running, the appellant climbed into the driver's seat and drove off, stealing the van and the parcels inside it. Mr Kondor opened the front nearside passenger door and tried to climb in, but the appellant drove away with him hanging on. Over the next 45 seconds the appellant drove at speeds in excess of 60 mph through residential streets, swerving from side to side and forcing another motorist to take evasive action, before the van struck a parked car and inflicted fatal head and chest injuries on Mr Kondor. The appellant drove on, met others and had the van's contents removed. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the PTPH on the basis that he did not know Mr Kondor was there, but the jury rejected that account and convicted him of murder before Goss J at Leeds Crown Court on 12 March 2025. He had also pleaded guilty to a count of theft of cashmere sweaters from a lorry at Warwick services on 19 April 2024. On 14 March 2025 Goss J imposed life imprisonment with a minimum term of 29 years and 162 days, together with a concurrent 6 months for the theft. He appealed against sentence with the leave of the single judge.