A man on trial for allegedly beating up a woman described as a close friend of Barron Trump has denied that jealousy over her relationship with the US president's son drove him to violence. Matvei Rumiantsev, 22, is facing charges including assault and rape at Snaresbrook Crown Court in London, with prosecutors alleging he attacked the complainant in a fit of rage.
Court Hears Details of Alleged FaceTime Incident
The court was told that Barron Trump, 19, phoned UK emergency services in the early hours of January 18 last year after witnessing the alleged assault during a FaceTime call. Jurors heard that Rumiantsev answered the call from Trump and turned the camera to show the woman's face before allegedly grabbing her hair, pushing her to the floor, and shouting abusive language.
Defendant Claims He Was Trying to Calm Hysterical Situation
Giving evidence, Rumiantsev stated that the woman's phone had been "constantly buzzing" with calls from Barron Trump throughout the day. He claimed that later that night, he answered another FaceTime call in an attempt to make her realise her behaviour was unreasonable after she became hysterical and began attacking him.
"I don't know why I did that," Rumiantsev told the court. "Maybe I thought she would realise that her behaviour was unreasonable, that she wouldn't behave like this in front of someone else, especially Barron Trump."
Prosecution Suggests Demonstration of Dominance
During cross-examination, prosecutor Serena Gates suggested Rumiantsev attacked the woman because he was "upset and angry" about her ongoing contact with Barron Trump. Gates put to the defendant that he wanted to "physically show your dominance over the complainant" and demonstrate this to the person on the other end of the phone.
"No," Rumiantsev repeatedly stated in response to these suggestions. He denied intentionally hitting the woman in the face during the call and maintained that he was not trying to demonstrate anything to Barron Trump.
Defendant Describes Emotional State During Incident
Rumiantsev told the court he was drunk and emotionally exhausted at the time of the alleged incident. "I was not angry, was not jealous," he stated. "I was emotional and very exhausted from a long evening. I was a bit tired of her hysterical behaviour."
The defendant, a Russian citizen living in Canary Wharf, east London, recalled stopping the woman from calling police at least once and admitted he may have grabbed her hair while she was hitting him.
Charges and Ongoing Trial
Rumiantsev denies 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.
The trial continues at Snaresbrook Crown Court as jurors consider the conflicting accounts of what transpired during the FaceTime call with Barron Trump and the events surrounding it.
