It's Official: Nepal Prince Killed Royals

June 14 -- Hopped up on narcotic-laced cigarettes and his favorite whiskey, and trapped between love and duty, Nepal's crown prince shot dead almost his entire family at the royal palace this month, an official panel concluded today.

Before gunning down his parents and seven others at a regularly-scheduled dinner party, Prince Dipendra spoke by mobile phone to Devyani Rana, the woman he wanted to marry, the panel said in a report.

Dipendra's parents, King Birendra and Queen Aiswarya, had opposed the marriage, and reportedly told him that if he went through it, his younger brother would take his place as crown prince.

Rana is now hiding in Europe, fearing for her life. After the June 1 massacre, riots shook Nepal for several days as crowds mourned the slain royals and demanded an explanation for the crime.

Some doubted Dipendra could have committed the massacre, and speculated that the newly crowned King Gyanendra or his son were somehow behind it.

Until the report was released today, the official explanation was that the killings were accidental.

Suppressing Dissent With Investigation

The much-anticipated report was released today in an effort by King Gyanendra, Birendra's brother, to put to rest questions surrounding the massacre at Narayanhiti Palace.

The two-member panel, which was in session for a week, was made up of Supreme Court Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya and House Speaker Taranath Ranabhat.

Ranabhat told a news conference broadcast live on Nepalese state TV and radio today: "A drunken crown prince indiscriminately fired, killing the royals."

The panel issued a detailed report on the events of the night, but it was silent on two points.

It did not say whether Dipendra shot himself after the killings, as has been widely reported. Dipendra died in a hospital of gunshot wounds three days after the massacre.

However, Ranabhat said the panel found no cartridges at the scene of the crime other than those used by Dipendra.