Spanish TV star Koldo Losada found dead, partner suspected

After receiving an ominous warning via Facebook from his husband, the body of Spanish TV star Koldo Losada was found in their Bilbao home, together with the corpse of their dog, Gaston, on Wednesday. 

Losada's long-term partner, Jon Ezkurdia, has been arrested, suspected in the killing of his partner.

Losada and Ezkurdia have apparently been together for 20 years.  However, Ezkurdia was arrested Wednesday night in Bilbao on suspicion of murder, after his husband's body was found in a pool of blood in their apartment by friends.  Their white Westie terrier, Gaston, was also found dead, apparently strangled.

Losada, 54, is well known to millions of Spaniards from his appearances in several popular TV series, including Cuéntame, Águila Roja and Amar en Tiempos Revueltos.  After being together for many years, the couple married two years ago.  However, friends of the couple said that they were going through difficult times and were apparently in the process of separating.

The couple were often seen together in a bar called "La Gallina Ciega" (the blind hen), which is run by 54-year-old Ezkurdia. However, apparently the bar has been closed since September this year.

La Vanguardia (in Spanish) reports that Ezkurdia posted a rather cryptic and sinister status on Facebook a couple of hours before Losada died, together with a photo of himself wearing a clown's makeup, with a wide, red painted mouth and black eyes.  The message, posted at 5:34 pm on Wednesday, read, "The blind hen began in silence and will exit the same way. Thank you for everything you have given us."

Reportedly, Ezkurdia had been see drinking on Wednesday in the centre of Bilbao with some female friends.  The friends were concerned about his depressed state and decided to later check up on him in the couple's home.

On arrival at the apartment, they found a reportedly very drunk Ezkurdia, receiving medical attention from an ambulance crew.  Worried about this, the women then entered the couple's apartment and found Losada's body, lying in a pool of blood in the hallway and with signs of a violent attack.  It was in the bin outside that the body of their dog, Gaston, was discovered, together with various items that might have been connected to the crime.

A friend of the couple told ABC that it was impossible that Ezkurdia could have killed Koldo and Gaston, adding,“They were always out having a beer together. They were a wonderful couple, and got on really well. We just don’t understand what could have happened.”

A waiter working at the bar said “I’ve known Jon for nine years; he’s a very loving man and always quick with a compliment."

It is unknown what pushed Ezkurdia to first post the ominous Facebook message and then allegedly to kill Losada.

Koldo Losada was born on November 13, 1960 in Getxo, Vizcaya, País Vasco, Spain and died on November 19, 2014 in Bilbao, Vizcaya, País Vasco, Spain.

Besides his appearances in the popular TV series Cuéntame, Águila Roja and Amar en Tiempos Revueltos, he was also known for his appearances in the films, Mystikal (2010), No controles (2010), The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (2013).

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Photo: Screengrab from YouTube video

And the world cocktail 'Oscar' goes to Spanish bar tender

David Ríos, who owns and runs a café with his brother in Barakaldo, in Spain's Basque Country, has become the first Spaniard to win the prestigious and coveted Diageo Reserve World Class competition.

The competition is thought to be the "Oscar of Cocktails" and the biggest prize in mixology. At the end of the competition, which featured 15,000 hopeful bar tenders in 50 countries, 37-year-old Ríos was last man standing in the Diageo Reserve World Class 2013.

 

This year saw the sixth final in the competition, which took place on board the luxury Mediterranean cruise ship Azamara Journey. Local TV channel 20Minutos has a video showing Ríos at work winning the event.

 

Diageo Reserve quotes Ríos as saying: “I am thrilled and humbled to be awarded Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the Year amongst the incredibly talented group of bartenders at the Global Final. I have been truly inspired this week by the unequivocally high standards and limitless talent at the Global Final. I look forward to the year ahead, traveling the world as an ambassador for the program, meeting my peers, educating new talent, and learning about new cocktail cultures and trends around the globe."

 

He told 20minutos that he got started "a little bit accidentally" when he was just 18 and the bar where he worked hosted a cocktail party. However since then, he has worked as a sommelier in Michelín 2-starred restaurant Mugaritz and as maître d' in the Michelín-starred Sheraton Hotel in Bilbao, now run by the Melia hotel group.

 

The creation that got him the big prize was "el Ponche de Oro Vasco" ('Basque Gold Punch'), which is a technically demanding cocktail of Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve whisky, pineapple juice, grenadine and soda, adorned with an orange slice, anise and mint.

 

"My creations are based on classic cocktail-making, but with some modern touches," explained Ríos.

 

According to Diageo Reserve's Spike Marchant, “Diageo Reserve World Class 2013 was a closer-fought battle than we’ve ever witnessed before, particularly as some of our newer markets had advanced such a lot. But there could only be one winner and David Rios stood above the rest of the 43 finalists. His cocktails and appreciation of flavor were consistently outstanding, his technical precision was jaw-dropping, and he maintained his composure under extreme pressure. Throughout, his strength of personality shone through, reflecting the best traditions of bar tending.”

Ríos normally works at Café Kobuk in Barakaldo, in Spain's Basque Country, with his brother and fellow owner, serving up breakfasts, coffees, beer and, naturally, cocktails. He apparently also displays his art as a barman in Bilbao's "The Jigger Cocktail".

Ríos was planning to open a new establishment in Bilbao, but these plans will have to be put on hold, as he embarks on a year-long global tour as ambassador for the Diageo Reserve brand. At the same time, he will be starring in a TV show, to be aired in 100 countries, showing the best moments from the mixology competition. This month, a brand new guide book, featuring his cocktail creations, will be available on sale.

To the source: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/354241