London Rape Trial Defendant Admits Jealousy Over Barron Trump Connection
In a dramatic development at Snaresbrook Crown Court, a man accused of rape and assault has told a jury he felt "jealous to some extent" about the attention the alleged victim was giving to Barron Trump, the youngest son of former US President Donald Trump. The trial has revealed complex details about the relationship between the defendant and the woman, who jurors have heard is friends with the 19-year-old Barron Trump.
Allegations of Dominance Display During FaceTime Call
Russian citizen Matvei Rumiantsev, 22, who resides in Canary Wharf, faces multiple charges including assault, actual bodily harm, intentional strangulation, perverting the course of justice, and two counts of rape. The alleged offences are said to have occurred between November 1, 2024, and January 23, 2025.
During cross-examination on Friday, January 23, prosecutor Serena Gates suggested Rumiantsev answered a FaceTime call from Barron Trump to the woman during the alleged attack as a way to demonstrate "dominance" over both the victim and the president's son. The court heard that Rumiantsev allegedly turned the screen to show the woman crying and screaming on the floor during this call.
Defendant's Emotional Testimony About Jealousy
When questioned about his feelings toward other men the woman might communicate with, Rumiantsev responded: "What I was really unhappy about was that she was frankly leading him (Barron Trump) on." He elaborated that he wanted to clarify that her actions toward Barron Trump were "wrong and it was not fair."
Rumiantsev told the court: "I am being portrayed as a jealous person who can lose his temper due to jealousy. I want to just make clear that her actions towards him was wrong and it was not fair." He acknowledged: "I was jealous to some extent."
Events of January 17-18, 2025
The jury has heard that Rumiantsev and the woman had been drinking together on the evening of January 17, 2025, continuing into the early hours of the following day. Rumiantsev maintains they engaged in consensual sexual activity twice during this period.
However, the prosecution alleges that Rumiantsev raped, strangled, and assaulted the woman that day, including striking her in the face during what they describe as a sustained beating. The court heard that Barron Trump reportedly "saved" the woman by calling emergency services after witnessing the alleged attack during the FaceTime call.
Defendant's Account of the Incident
Rumiantsev denied intentionally hitting the woman in the face, claiming she was lashing out at him. He told the court: "I was drunk. I was not angry, was not jealous. I was emotional and very exhausted from a long evening. I was a bit tired of her hysterical behaviour."
The defendant recalled that the woman's behaviour "deteriorated sharply" after he showed her face to Barron Trump during the FaceTime call. Rumiantsev said he had hoped this action would calm her down, explaining: "I was demonstrating to her that she would not behave in the same way in front of other people and what she was doing was unreasonable. I thought it might bring her back to her senses."
Instead, he said, "she started screaming and crying and started to call the police."
Attempted Escape and Aftermath
Prosecutor Serena Gates described how the woman later tried to escape the flat, becoming "hysterical, trying to escape" and knocking on neighbours' doors seeking assistance. Rumiantsev admitted he may have grabbed her hair while she was hitting him and brought her back inside, and recalled preventing her from calling the police at least once.
The prosecution suggested Rumiantsev attempted to apply "emotional blackmail" through a letter he wrote about her witness statement following his arrest. In response, Rumiantsev said: "I thought that I was maybe naive in the fact that I was not able to calm her down or find the right words for her – (and that was) the reason I deserved this. I was completely shocked. I could never imagine me going to prison."
When asked by Ms Gates if the critical moment was "when you answered the call and showed her face to Barron Trump," Rumiantsev replied: "Yes." He added: "My mistake was possibly answering the telephone, after which she completely went out of her mind."
Mr Justice Bennathan KC reminded Rumiantsev that the trial concerns whether he attacked the woman or not. The proceedings at London's Snaresbrook Crown Court continue as both sides present their evidence in this high-profile case involving connections to the Trump family.
