He appeared in the Waitākere District Court this morning via audio-visual link.
He did not speak or engage with Judge Glibb, and did not acknowledge if he could hear and understand the proceedings.
His lawyer Nicholas Wintour told the court the man also refused to engage with him, and he wanted to order a psychiatric assessment of the defendant.
The defendant was granted interim name suppression and remanded in custody until his next appearance at the High Court in Auckland on December 8.
Police said they are not seeking anyone else in relation to the Yates' death.
They said that Yates and the defendant were known to each other.
