In a landmark legal proceeding at Snaresbrook Crown Court, 23-year-old Russian national Matvei Rumiantsev has been sentenced to four years imprisonment for assault and perverting the course of justice. The case gained international attention due to the involvement of Barron Trump, the youngest son of the former U.S. president, who initially reported the crime while residing in the United States.
The judicial process revealed that in January 2025, Trump witnessed a violent assault during a brief video call with a London-based woman he had met through social media. According to court transcripts released by the Crown Prosecution Service, Trump immediately contacted UK authorities, stating: ‘I just got a call from a girl, you know, she’s getting beat up.’
Evidence presented during the trial indicated that Rumiantsev and the victim had been drinking together on the evening of January 17th, 2025, continuing into the early hours. The prosecution demonstrated that Rumiantsev subsequently assaulted the woman, striking her in the face. Following his arrest, Rumiantsev further compounded his legal troubles by attempting to persuade the victim to retract her allegations through correspondence from prison.
Presiding Judge Mr Justice Bennathan KC provided careful guidance to jurors, emphasizing that Trump’s account—while credible—should not serve as the primary basis for conviction since the witness had not provided sworn testimony or undergone cross-examination. Notably, Rumiantsev was acquitted of more severe charges including rape and intentional strangulation related to separate incidents alleged to have occurred in November 2024.
During cross-examination, Rumiantsev acknowledged experiencing jealousy regarding the victim’s relationship with Trump, though he maintained that his primary concern was what he perceived as inappropriate behavior toward the presidential son. The defendant has already served two years in pre-trial custody, which will count toward his sentence.