Barron Trump praised by UK judge for phoning 999 to report attack on friend
Barron Trump praised by UK judge for phoning 999 to report attack on friend
A Russian man jailed after assaulting a woman and recording Barron Trump’s involvement in the attack
A 23-year-old Russian national, Matvei Rumiantsev, has been sentenced to four years in prison following an incident where he assaulted a woman and filmed part of the attack to showcase Donald Trump’s youngest son, Barron. The altercation, rooted in jealousy over the woman’s friendship with the president, occurred after the two met online.
During the assault, Rumiantsev received a FaceTime call from Barron and turned the camera to capture himself striking the victim while she cried on the floor. The judge highlighted Rumiantsev’s lack of empathy, calling him a “trained fighter” prone to outbursts of rage.
“Your lack of insight and empathy was apparent at trial. You continue to try to blame the complainant for everything that has happened,” stated Mr Justice Bennathan.
The victim’s testimony revealed her fear during the attack, which lasted approximately an hour. She claimed she felt “unable to escape and… might die” at the time. The judge emphasized that Rumiantsev was aware of her vulnerability, noting: “You knew she was a vulnerable, emotional young woman when you attacked her.”
Barron Trump’s 999 call: A pivotal moment in the case
Barron’s 999 call to UK emergency services, made just days before his father’s inauguration, proved critical in the prosecution. He described the situation to the operator: “It’s really an emergency. I’m calling from the US, uh, I just got a call from a girl, you know, she’s getting beat up.”
“I don’t think these details matter. She’s getting really badly beat up and the call was about eight minutes ago,” Barron added, as the operator pressed for more information.
Despite his initial reluctance to testify, Barron’s account to police provided essential evidence. His exchange with the operator included moments of impatience, with him insisting the details of his connection to the victim were irrelevant.
Metro’s campaign against violence against women
On November 25, 2024, Metro launched “This Is Not Right,” a campaign aimed at confronting the widespread issue of violence against women. Partnering with Women’s Aid, the initiative seeks to spotlight the urgency of the crisis and encourage public engagement.
“The transcript of his 999 call shows he pleaded for urgent action and was even accused of being ‘rude’ when he insisted it was a waste of time explaining how he knew the woman,” the court heard. Barron’s email correspondence with detectives also revealed his uncertainty about the victim’s whereabouts, noting the time zone difference.
“What I saw was very brief indeed but indeed prevalent,” he wrote in an email last May. “I didn’t expect her to pick up due to the difference in the time zone… the phone was answered but not by her, to my dismay.”
The judge commended Barron’s swift response, calling it “lifesaving” and praising his role in alerting authorities to the assault. His actions, though brief, were instrumental in securing justice for the victim.
