Matvei Rumiantsev, 22, was convicted at Snaresbrook Crown Court of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and of perverting the course of justice after writing to the victim from custody. The case gained international attention when Barron Trump told UK police he had seen the attack during a video call and reported it from the United States. Rumiantsev was acquitted of separate rape and strangulation charges; sentencing is scheduled for 27 March.
Man Convicted After Barron Trump Told UK Police He Saw Assault During Video Call
A man was found guilty on Wednesday of assaulting a woman, in a case that involved the son of the US president, who told UK police he'd seen the attack last year. - Kevin Lamarque/Pool/Getty Images
A 22-year-old Russian national, Matvei Rumiantsev, has been found guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and of perverting the course of justice in connection with an incident that came to light after a video call alerted UK police.
Verdict and Charges
Rumiantsev was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm for conduct recorded between 17 and 18 January 2025, and of perverting the course of justice for writing to the victim from custody asking her to withdraw her allegations, the PA Media agency reported. He is due to be sentenced on 27 March.
How the Call Reached Police
Transcripts show Barron Trump told UK police during a call that he was phoning from the United States after the woman contacted him and appeared to be “getting beat up.” According to the account, a shirtless man answered the video call and, seconds later, Trump saw the woman "getting hit while crying." The victim later told jurors she believed the intervention helped stop Rumiantsev from killing her.
Acquittals and Other Allegations
Rumiantsev was acquitted of separate counts of rape and of intentional strangulation alleged for the same date and of an additional rape and assault allegation said to have occurred in November 2024, PA Media reported.
Defendant's Account
At trial, Rumiantsev acknowledged answering the video call and admitted he had been "jealous to some extent" about the woman's contact with Barron Trump. He denied being controlling or deliberately prolonging the call to demonstrate dominance, saying he had tried to explain his feelings after seeing messages between the woman and others.
Prosecution: Prosecutors said Rumiantsev answered and extended the call to assert dominance over the woman; he denied that allegation.
Judge's Direction
Before jurors retired, Mr Justice Bennathan KC warned them to treat Trump’s account with caution, noting that had he been cross-examined or given sworn evidence, questions might have been raised about whether his perception was biased by his relationship with the woman.
This case attracted attention because of the unusual involvement of a high-profile American family member who notified police after witnessing part of the incident via a video call.
Reporting: Details in this article are drawn from court reporting by PA Media and coverage in British media.
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