Multiple rib fractures, a perforated and collapsed lung and a bruised liver were among the injuries sustained by the drama teacher charged with murdering the teenage student he was dating, a court heard yesterday.

Doctors say Erin Tanti, 24, had air in his chest, around his lung, necessitating a “potentially life-saving procedure” whereby a chest drain was inserted into his abdomen to release the pressure.

The injuries Mr Tanti sustained were compatible with a fall from a height. The witnesses did not say how high he had fallen, but in a previous court sitting it was claimed that Mr Tanti had fallen from a height of 10 storeys.

Cardiothoracic surgeon Peter Paul Vassallo and anaesthetist Noel Borg were testifying before Magistrate Audrey Demicoli in the compilation of evidence against Mr Tanti, who is pleading not guilty to the murder of Lisa Marie Zahra, 15, assisting her to commit suicide, defiling her, participating in sexual acts with her and being in possession of indecent images of Miss Zahra, a minor.

The fatal incident took place on March 19 of last year, when the two were found at the bottom of Dingli Cliffs.

Mr Vassallo said a CT scan revealed multiple rib fractures and a perforation in Mr Tanti’s right lung. There was no need for any intervention on his part because the chest drain, inserted by the doctors in the emergency department, was doing its job. The drain is usually removed after 24 or 48 hours.

He was coherent. He knew where he was, knew what had happened and also told me he had ingested some pills. He did not know how many, though

Under cross-examination, Mr Vassallo said the injuries sustained by Mr Tanti were compatible to a blunt trauma and corresponded to the explanation given to him by his colleagues, that the patient had fallen from a height.

Asked whether the patient could have had problems breathing due to the collapsed lung, Mr Vassallo said this depended on the patient because people who were fit would be able to breathe normally with one lung.

He could not say how many ribs Mr Tanti had fractured.

Mr Borg said he had examined Mr Tanti soon after he was admitted to hospital and decided that his injuries merited being admitted to intensive care.

He said tests revealed traces of aspirin, which Mr Tanti confirmed when he told him he had ingested a number of pills.

Mr Borg said Mr Tanti also had spinal injuries and a contusion to his liver. He was transferred to a ward after three days in intensive care. He said Mr Tanti told him he had fallen from a height.

“He was coherent. He knew where he was, knew what had happened and also told me he had ingested some pills. He did not know how many, though,” Mr Borg said.

Under cross-examination, Mr Borg said the chest drain was inserted by emergency doctors and that, according to the hospital file, the procedure was carried out in the resuscitation room of the emergency department, which was usually used for patients with severe injuries and when cases were not straightforward.

The case continues on April 30.

Police Inspector Keith Arnaud prosecuted.

Lawyers Michael and Lucio Sciriha appeared for Mr Tanti.

Lawyers Joe Giglio, Steve Tonna Lowell and Gianluca Caruana Curran appeared parte civile for the Zahra family.