Assailant Convicted After Barron Trump Called London Police
Barron Trump’s late-night FaceTime call helped prompt police response that led to Matvei Rumiantsev’s assault conviction and perverting the course of justice charge.
Overview
Matvei Rumiantsev, 22, was convicted of assault and perverting the course of justice on evidence that included a Jan. 18, 2025 FaceTime call to London police from Barron Trump, 19, officials confirmed.
The call came after Barron Trump said he briefly saw a shirtless man answer the video call and then the woman he knew being struck, details prosecutors used to tie the assault to Rumiantsev at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
Defense lawyer Sasha Wass questioned how much Barron Trump could have seen in the five to seven seconds of footage he described, and Justice Mr. Justice Bennathan KC advised jurors to treat Trump's account with caution because he was not cross-examined.
Rumiantsev was acquitted of one count of rape and intentional strangulation and of separate November 2024 rape and assault charges, while the trial resulted in a conviction on perverting the course of justice and an assault conviction, with sentencing set for March 27, 2026.
Rumiantsev faces sentencing on March 27, 2026, and the case highlighted disputes over the reliability of digital eyewitness testimony across borders, with prosecutors and defense offering conflicting accounts.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this coverage neutrally: they rely on court transcripts and official statements, include both the conviction and acquittals, incorporate the judge's caution about Trump's unsworn evidence, and quote defendant testimony. There is little loaded language, balanced sourcing, and no evident omission of major viewpoints—reporting stays factual.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Barron Trump saw a shirtless man answer the video call and then briefly observed the woman he knew being struck, as she was crying and screaming on the floor.
Rumiantsev was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and perverting the course of justice, but acquitted of rape, intentional strangulation from January 2025, and separate November 2024 rape and assault charges.
He wrote a letter from prison to the woman asking her to withdraw her allegations against him.
Prosecutors argued Rumiantsev was jealous of the woman's friendship with Barron Trump, which he admitted to some extent during testimony.
Sentencing is set for March 27, 2026, at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
History
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