Russian MMA Fighter Convicted of Assault During Barron Trump FaceTime Call
A former Russian mixed martial arts fighter has been convicted of assaulting his girlfriend while she was on a video call with Barron Trump, the youngest son of former US President Donald Trump. Matvei Rumiantsev, aged 22, was found guilty of beating the woman in a jealous rage at his London flat, though he was cleared of more serious charges including rape and strangulation.
Violent Attack During Video Call
The court heard how the incident unfolded when Rumiantsev became jealous of the woman's friendship with Barron Trump. The Russian citizen answered a FaceTime call from the President's son on the woman's phone, showed Barron her face, then grabbed her hair and pushed her to the floor while shouting abusive language.
During the alleged attack, which occurred in the early hours of January 18 last year, Rumiantsev called the woman derogatory names and kicked her in the stomach while she was on the floor. Barron Trump, who was 19 at the time, witnessed the assault through the video connection and immediately took action to contact British emergency services.
Barron Trump's Emergency Call
The court was played a recording of Barron Trump's 999 call, in which he told the operator: 'I just got a call from a girl, you know. She's getting beaten up.' After some initial confusion about how to reach British emergency services from America, he provided the woman's London address and emphasised the urgency of the situation.
During the call, Barron explained he knew the woman through social media and expressed concern about the severity of the attack he had witnessed. He later apologised to the call handler for what was perceived as rudeness, stating he was focused on getting help for his friend as quickly as possible.
Police Response and Investigation
Police attended Rumiantsev's home in Poplar, east London, following emergency calls from both the alleged victim and Barron Trump. Bodycam footage from officers showed the woman telling them about her friendship with the President's son, with one officer remarking to a colleague about the unusual nature of the informant.
The woman told officers she had been subjected to slapping, punching, kicking and strangulation during the assault. She later testified that Barron Trump's intervention had saved her life, describing his call as 'like a sign from God at that moment.'
Attempts to Pervert Justice
Rumiantsev was also convicted of attempting to pervert the course of justice. The court heard how he tricked police officers into allowing him to phone the woman from custody, where he was overheard making comments about her being in a warm bed while he was in jail.
Eight days later, while being held on remand at Belmarsh prison, the Russian made a call to a friend named Arsen, saying he had posted a letter that should be given to the woman. In this correspondence, he pleaded with her to withdraw her statement to police.
Withdrawn and Retracted Statement
The victim initially withdrew her statement but later retracted this withdrawal, telling police her original account was true. She explained that Rumiantsev had also sexually assaulted her on two occasions, alleging he would deliberately get her so drunk that she could not consent to sexual activity.
She testified that when she asked him why he did this, he responded: 'you never want to do this with me so I make you drink and do this to you.' The defence suggested her accounts were 'untrue and fabricated,' but the jury convicted on the assault charges while clearing Rumiantsev of rape and strangulation offences.
Court Proceedings and Verdict
The trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court in north-east London heard detailed evidence about the relationship between the parties and the circumstances of the attack. Jurors were instructed to treat Barron Trump's account with appropriate caution and consider whether it might be biased or mistaken.
Despite being cleared of the most serious charges, Rumiantsev now faces sentencing for assault and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The case has highlighted issues of domestic violence and the challenges of prosecuting such cases when victims initially withdraw their complaints.
