Defence counsel Glenn Dixon said his client was yet to undergo a psychiatric assessment to establish whether he was fit for trial.
Flowers and a cross marked the spot where Mrs Prole was found dead. A note attached to a bunch of flowers read: "You were such a good friend and will be dearly missed."
Brother-in-law Peter Phipps said Mrs Prole was a "lovely, peace-loving Christian" woman.
"She was just a real neat person, I can't say it enough," Mr Phipps said.
Mrs Prole was a teacher aide, helping children at Brookfield Primary School learning English as a second language.
Principal Robert Hyndman said Mrs Prole had been at the school for 12 years and developed strong links with Tauranga's Indian community in that time.
"She was a very gentle, caring person and had a very generous spirit. She would do whatever she could for people," Mr Hyndman said.
"Robyn would not hurt a fly. She was always 'the cup is half full', always very positive in her outlook, that kind of person."
Mr Hyndman said the feeling at the school was subdued and reflective.
"There's a lot of sadness ...
The children are writing cards expressing their feelings," he said.
The school would have a remembrance ceremony on Friday for Mrs Prole, who listed movies Love Stories and Dr Seuss' The Lorax among her "likes" on her Facebook page.
A post-mortem examination was carried out yesterday.
