A man has admitted murdering Claudiu Carol Condor, a parcel delivery driver who died trying to stop his van being stolen in Leeds.
Mark Ross, 32, appeared at Leeds Crown Court by videolink from prison on Friday and pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murder and will stand trial on that charge.
Condor, 42, from Sheffield, was on a round of delivering parcels for Amazon in the Wortley area of Leeds on August 20 when he was involved in an attempt to steal the silver Ford Transit Cargo he was travelling in.
The inquest was told Condor suffered the fatal injuries when he spotted someone “attempting to steal his vehicle” and tried to intervene. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
An inquest into his death was held and adjourned at Wakefield Coroner's Court last week. The coroner said the cause of death was head and chest injuries.
Mr Condor was an Amazon delivery driver employed by SP Transport Group, which said he was “more than just a colleague; he was a friend, a mentor and a valued member of our team”.
A GoFundMe page set up by the company to support Mr Condor's family has raised more than £31,000, and colleague Mike Neal, who started the fundraiser, said the act of kindness was “incredible” and “something we will never forget”.
He wrote: “I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who donated, shared the campaign or offered to help in any way. Your actions have not only provided financial relief to Claudius' family, but also served as a powerful reminder that they are not alone in their grief.”
Ross, of Armley, Leeds, was remanded in custody and is due to stand trial for murder on March 4 next year.
