Nepal massacre inquiry begins, at long last

King Gyanendra promises that the public will get explanation of what happened in the shootings

By staff and wire reports

KATMANDU, Nepal -- Investigators in Katmandu have finally begun their inquiry into the shooting massacre of much of Nepal's royal family, apparently carried out by then Crown Prince Dipendra.

A two-member committee, appointed by Nepal's new King Gyanendra, is expected to submit its findings from the probe on Sunday.

The investigation began two days behind schedule, and as two close relatives of the royal family revealed more details of the horrific event.

They say the late Crown Prince Dipendra had shot and murdered his father King Birendra, mother Queen Aishwarya and seven other royals died at the palace last Friday night.

The crown prince was allegedly turned to gun to himself. He fell into a coma, but was named king as the natural successor to his father -- despite being the prime suspect in the killings.

Dipendra reigned while unconscious for two days before he died of his wounds on Monday.

Gyanendra, who was crowned shortly after Dipendra's death, is under pressure for tens of thousands of angry and confused Nepalese to provide an explanation of what happened.

During the three days of investigations, the inquiry will inspect the shooting site, interview survivors and conducting ballistic tests.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhaya heads the investigation panel, which also comprises Speaker of the Parliament's Lower House Tranath Ranabhat.

The committee already ran into difficulties shortly after the King appointed its members. A third member, Madhav Kumar Nepal, an opposition leader, resigned after he questioned the legitimacy of the committee.

Weighing all evidence

Investigators have said they must weigh all available evidence before deciding whether to believe the many people who have named Crown Prince Dipendra as the gunman.

"We have put together a panel of experts," Ranabhat said on Friday, as quoted by The Associated Press. "First, we will be talking to firearms and medical experts."

Dr Rajiv Raj Shahi describes how the crown prince walked from room to room, shooting members of his family

The investigators went to work behind closed doors in Ranabhat's chambers, with top legal officials and three Supreme Court justices inside, guarded by police and soldiers wearing combat fatigues and toting machine guns.

On Thursday, an eyewitness, Dr. Rajiv Raj Shahi, the son-in-law of shooting victim Prince Dhirendra, became the first person who was at the scene to go public with his story.

"It was the then-Crown Prince Dipendra who carried out the murders," Shahi told reporters at the hospital where three royals are recovering. "He was just a murderer."

After Shahi spoke, investigators said he would be among the witnesses they interview. Only after that could the inquiry panel decide "if he's telling the truth or not," Chief Justice Upadhaya.

Unable to accept

Despite the eyewitnesses' account, many Nepalese are unable to accept Dipendra would kill his parents, the beloved the king and queen, and put unpopular new King Gyanendra on the throne.

"It just does not sound like the truth," said Silpa Sharma, a housewife who is one of the many skeptics, as quoted by The Associated Press.

Nepalese have demanded an explanation of events inside the palace during the shootings

The official line has been that the deaths were an accident caused by an exploding automatic rifle.

It is not clear whether the investigators will offer any findings on the motive, however.

Several people have said privately that Dipendra had quarreled with his mother over his choice of a bride, but the queen disapproved because the young woman came from the wrong clan.

A member of Nepal's State Council, which handles royal affairs, has told The Associated Press that witnesses have said the king and queen told Dipendra he could marry Devyani Rana but if he did so, his brother Nirajan would take his place as crown prince.

The State Council member spoke only on condition of anonymity.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.