Henry John Woodcock (born 23 March 1967) is an Italianprosecutor currently based inNaples.[1]
Born inTaunton, England, Woodcock's father was British and worked as a teacher at Livorno'sNaval Academy in northern Italy and his mother was from the southern Italian city of Naples. Woodcock worked inPotenza for about ten years where he was a colleague of the former magistrateLuigi De Magistris, mayor of Naples until 2021, and they cooperated in anti-mafia investigations.
Woodcock became a prosecutor in 1996 and has become noted for his investigations in high-profile scandals including the Italian "Vip Gate" in 2003, and "Savoiagate" in 2006.[2]
On 16 June 2006, Woodcock asked for, and obtained from theJudge of the preliminary investigation an arrest warrant againstVittorio Emanuele of Savoy inVarenna accusing him of participating incorruption,forgery, and organization ofprostitution in relation to an investigation of theCasino ofCampione d'Italia. The arrest was made after wire taps had been intercepted between Vittorio Emanuele and other suspects during a two-year investigation. Thirteen of 24 people investigated were arrested. Seven of these were jailed, while six were placed under house arrest. Among the other suspects were Salvatore Sottile, the spokesman of former foreign ministerGianfranco Fini and casino managers fromMessina, Sicily. Italian television also indicated that Vittorio's cousinSimeon II of Bulgaria, the last Tsar and former prime minister ofBulgaria, was under investigation.[3] Vittorio Emanuele was acquitted in Rome in 2010.[4]
Woodcock moved to Naples in September 2009.[1]
