A British man has gone on the run after being released on bail pending trial for the manslaughter of a doorman at a Costa del Sol restaurant owned by former TOWIE star Elliott Wright. An arrest warrant has been issued for Harry Saunders, 35, who vanished following an incident at Olivia's La Cala near Fuengirola, where fellow ex-TOWIE cast member James Argent regularly performs.
Doorman Jose Rafael Pisani Prado, a Venezuelan-born bodybuilder and personal trainer, died in hospital on 16 April 2023 after being punched during a brawl at the venue. Saunders was arrested in Marbella after police obtained CCTV footage allegedly capturing him punching the victim. The 33-year-old widow, Romina Acuna, tragically died in October 2023 after falling from her fifth-floor flat in Calahonda.
Spanish prosecutors are seeking a four-year prison sentence for Saunders, who has been charged with manslaughter and wounding. A pre-trial indictment states that Saunders, while being restrained by the doorman, broke free and punched him hard in the face, causing him to fall backwards and hit his head on the ground. The victim suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage and facial fractures, dying from a traumatic brain injury.
If found guilty, Saunders also faces a six-figure compensation payment of £200,000 to the victim's family. Court sources confirmed an arrest warrant has been issued for failing to meet bail conditions, with his whereabouts described as unknown. It remains unclear if a trial date has been set.
Elliott Wright closed the restaurant for two days following the death, releasing a statement expressing heartbreak and respect for the family. Saunders had previously been among six individuals detained in connection with a shooting near Marbella in September 2022, but it is unclear if he has been charged in that case.
