During the massacre, according to the doctor, Paras selflessly shielded a group of women, who, like him, came out unscathed.

This final detail only gave the account a further credibility problem with most people. ''Paras is the one who could have done this, not Dipendra,'' said Rupak Adhikary, a health researcher who was standing near the royal palace not long after the doctor's presentation.

Dr. Shahi, wearing a T-shirt, had his head shaved in the traditional Hindu manner of mourning. He made his presentation at the brick-walled military hospital where four of the wounded are recovering. He took no questions.

Dipendra was ''really drunk'' when he arrived at the family's Friday dinner, Dr. Shahi said. The crown prince began to ''stammer and quarrel.''

Paras, Dr. Shahi and Prince Nirajan, who was Dipendra's younger brother, escorted the inebriated Dipendra to his personal quarters. By the time these three returned, King Birendra and the 20 or so other guests had moved to an L-shaped drawing room, which contains a snooker table, where they sat in small groups, the doctor said.

Soon after, Dipendra returned heavily armed, making his father his first target. Then, according to Dr. Shahi, the crown prince briefly left the room only to come back ready to renew the killing. King Birendra's brother Dhirendra -- Dr. Shahi's father-in-law -- tried to stop him. For that effort, he was shot ''at point-blank range in his chest,'' according to the doctor.

''At this point he went wild and started shooting whoever came in front of him,'' Dr. Shahi said. ''How many weapons he used, I'm not sure. I didn't count. It was too fast.'' The killing spree lasted only ''a minute, minute and a half.''