The 12-year-old junior high school student who has confessed to kidnapping and murdering a 4-year-old boy here last week told his lawyers Friday that he was not himself at the time of the crime.

One of the lawyers, speaking at a news conference, indicated they may request a psychiatric examination.

The student was placed under police custody on Wednesday and was later turned over to the Nagasaki Family Court after admitting to the murder of Shun Tanemoto on July 1.