Jealousy Claim Surfaces in London Trial Linked to Barron Trump Call
A London courtroom heard starkly different accounts Friday as a young man accused of a violent sexual assault sought to distance himself from allegations that jealousy over a connection to the Trump family sparked an…
A London courtroom heard starkly different accounts Friday as a young man accused of a violent sexual assault sought to distance himself from allegations that jealousy over a connection to the Trump family sparked an attack.
According to the New York Post, Matvei Rumianstev, a 22-year-old Russian citizen, is standing trial in the UK over claims that he raped and assaulted his former girlfriend in the early hours of Jan. 18 last year.
Prosecutors allege the incident unfolded after Rumianstev saw an incoming FaceTime call from Barron Trump, the youngest son of President Donald Trump, on the woman’s phone.
According to prosecutors, the call triggered a sudden and violent outburst.
The court was told Rumianstev “flew into a rage” after seeing the contact appear on the screen and later sent a message to the woman that read: “You started calling him sweetheart, I felt so unwell.”
Rumianstev has pleaded not guilty and rejected the claim that anger or jealousy drove his actions. Under questioning, however, he acknowledged some feelings of envy.
“I was jealous to some extent,” he admitted, according to testimony reported by The Guardian.
Despite that concession, Rumianstev denied being angry at the time of the alleged assault. He told the court that his decision to answer the final