Man accused of rape says lady’s cellphone messages to Donald Trump’s son upset him | EUROtoday

A Russian man accused of rape has denied “being controlling” however instructed jurors he was upset by the lady’s sending messages to Donald Trump’s youngest son.

Matvei Rumiantsev, 22, is on trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court in London, accused of assault and two counts of rape, amongst different costs, in opposition to the alleged sufferer, who jurors have heard is buddies with Barron Trump.

The defendant mentioned he later regretted his behaviour however denies all six costs.

Giving proof on Thursday, Mr Rumiantsev mentioned he grew to become conscious of the lady’s friendship with Mr Trump, 19, whereas on a vacation in October 2024.

The Russian citizen, who lives in London, instructed the court docket: “She [the alleged victim] came up to me in the hotel room and she asked me to take a picture of her phone on which there was a chat with Barron Trump.

“The kind of chat they had didn’t allow her to take a screenshot so she came up to me and asked me to take a photograph with the phone.”

Jurors heard that on 3 November 2024, Mr Rumiantsev and the alleged sufferer had an argument at her flat, and Mr Rumiantsev left the condo after damaging her air fryer and dropping her kettle.

He mentioned that after he left, he acquired cellphone calls and textual content messages from the alleged sufferer, which made him involved for her welfare, so he known as the police.

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Jurors have heard that after police arrived, in body-worn footage the lady could be heard apparently telling officers: “It was like jealousy, controlling of like who I can be friends with.”

Asked by his barrister, Sasha Wass KC, whether or not this was concerning the US president’s son, the defendant mentioned that it was.

Mr Rumiantsev, who wore a blue swimsuit and white shirt within the witness field, instructed jurors that earlier that night, the alleged sufferer had introduced Mr Trump up and began exhibiting him her messages with the 19-year-old.

“I started to explain that I felt upset as well about her talking to Barron Trump,” he mentioned.

“I was in no way controlling but I was trying to make her know that if she feels unwell seeing messages I had with girls 10 years ago, she could maybe understand how I felt when she was sat there this moment texting someone else.”

The court docket heard that later that day, Mr Rumiantsev despatched the alleged sufferer a textual content in Russian, translated into English, which mentioned: “I honestly cannot believe what a f*** up I caused.

“This is just f***ing nuts.

“I behaved like an arsehole. I’m very ashamed that I grabbed your phone, you started calling him sweetheart. I felt so unwell.”

Asked who “him” was, Mr Rumiantsev mentioned “Barron Trump”.

Jurors heard Mr Rumiantsev and the lady had been consuming collectively on the night of 17 January 2025 and into the early hours of the subsequent day.

Mr Rumiantsev mentioned that they had consensual intercourse twice throughout that point.

Giving proof on Thursday, the defendant instructed jurors that earlier than he answered a name from the US president’s son on the alleged sufferer’s cellphone, the lady had been “in a stage of complete breakdown”, partly as a result of she had been consuming.

“She was just completely hysterical crying, screaming, shouting at me,” mentioned Mr Rumiantsev, who wore a blue swimsuit and white shirt within the dock.

“I noticed her phone next to me on the sofa and it was ringing with a Barron Trump face call,” the defendant instructed the court docket.

“I don’t know what went through my head but I answered yes.

“At that point I was standing up, I stepped away from her maybe for a couple metres … I answered the call and I immediately put the camera towards her. I don’t know why I did that.

“Maybe I thought she would realise that her behaviour was unreasonable, that she wouldn’t behave like this in front of someone else.”

Mr Rumiantsev denies assault, precise bodily hurt, intentional strangulation, perverting the course of justice and two counts of rape, in costs courting between 1 November 2024 and 23 January 2025.

The trial continues.