Brit accused of killing bouncer in TOWIE star’s restaurant flees Costa del Sol

An arrest warrant has been issued for British man Harry Saunders, accused of manslaughter following the death of a bouncer at Elliott Wright’s Costa del Sol restaurant Olivia’s La Cala

A British man due to stand trial over the death of a bouncer at former Towie star Elliott Wright’s renowned Costa del Sol restaurant has absconded. An arrest warrant has been issued for Harry Saunders, 35, who disappeared after being released on bail during a court manslaughter investigation into an incident at Olivia’s La Cala near Fuengirola, where another ex-Towie cast member, James Argent, is a regular performer.

Doorman Jose Rafael Pisani Prado passed away in hospital on 16 April 2023 following a scuffle at the popular dining spot hours earlier. The Brit accused of his murder was arrested in Marbella after police obtained CCTV footage from inside Elliott’s celebrity haunt allegedly showing him punching the bodybuilder and personal trainer.

Jose’s Chilean-born widow, 33-year-old Romina Acuna, tragically died in October 2023 after falling from her fifth-floor home in Calahonda near Fuengirola. She revealed after his death that he had called her half an hour before the incident, expressing concern about the number of intoxicated patrons in the restaurant.

The couple had tied the knot just five months prior in a glamorous Las Vegas ceremony and were planning to start a family and a new life together selling sports supplements in the Canary Islands.

Spanish public prosecutors confirmed today they are seeking a four-year prison sentence for the now missing Brit, whose full name is Harry James George Saunders. Court sources confirmed an arrest warrant has been issued for Saunders for failing to meet his bail conditions, with his current location being “unknown”, making him a fugitive from justice. He has been charged with manslaughter and wounding.

A three-page pre-trial indictment released by prosecutors reads: “In the context of a fight and while attempting to be restrained by the injured party, who was carrying out his work as security personnel at the establishment, the accused broke free from him and, with the intention of undermining his physical wellbeing and with disregard for the possible consequences, punched him hard in the face which led to his victim falling backwards and hitting his head on the ground.”

The Venezuelan-born Jose suffered injuries including a subarachnoid haemorrhage and several facial fractures, and he passed away in hospital approximately 12 hours after the assault due to a traumatic brain injury caused by the early-hours incident.

If found guilty as charged, Saunders could face a four-year prison sentence and a six-figure compensation payout, with prosecutors demanding he pays £200,000 (€227,000) to Mr Pisani Prado’s family.

It was unclear this morning whether a trial date has been set.

Father-of-five Elliott Wright closed his restaurant in La Cala de Mijas for two days following Jose’s death and said in a statement released on his eatery’s Instagram site: “Our hearts are broken and we have closed the restaurant today and tomorrow out of respect. We are supporting of respect.

“Our staff and the family while awaiting news of further investigations.”

Romina Acuna paid a heartfelt tribute to her newlywed husband, who she described as the “love of my life” in a touching social media post after their wedding. The couple posed for photos before hopping into a white stretch limousine.

She relocated to Mijas on the Costa del Sol at the beginning of 2021 from her former home in Barcelona, and the pair enjoyed a holiday in Chile before marrying in Vegas.

Jose is believed to have been employed as a doorman at Olivia’s La Cala for approximately two years prior to his death.

In April 2023, Spanish police released footage capturing the dramatic moment they apprehended suspect Saunders.

The arrest was executed with the assistance of an elite Civil Guard unit known as GAR, a rapid action group.

It later came to light that the same Brit had been one of six individuals detained in early February that year following a shooting at Turtle Lake near Marbella on 30 September 2022.

A 24-year-old man who was shot in the leg while fishing with friends was rushed to hospital but survived.

Following that initial arrest, Saunders was granted bail by a judge, and it remains unclear if he has also been charged in connection with that separate incident.

At the start of the year, Elliott Wright announced James Argent was relocating to Spain as he revealed he was reversing an earlier decision to sell his glamorous restaurant so he could return to the UK to be closer to his two eldest children.

He shared this update with fans in a social media post at the end of January, he announced: “So, 2026 is here, and many of you thought I’d have sold Olivia’s La Cala by now.

“After receiving the auction bids on 5th December and taking time to properly analyse them, speak with prospective buyers, and review the conditions attached, I’ve decided to keep Olivia’s.

“Some of the bids simply weren’t strong enough, and the ones that were came with conditions that made selling pointless. I always said I’d only sell if the right price and right terms were met – and they weren’t.

“So with that… I’m staying. Olivia’s is staying. And we’re planning a bigger and better 2026 season.

“We reopen on Valentine’s Day – 14th February. All our summer parties are booked and ready

“ARG is loving life – not only doing his legendary Thursday summer nights, but also moving to Spain and taking on Sunday Lunches too

“Plenty of exciting things ahead… so let’s roll on 2026, true Olivia’s La Cala style.”