Crown prosecutor Jacinda Hamilton also had the name of the victim further suppressed until the man's next appearance in November.
He was remanded in further custody and did not request bail.
Police were called to a flat in Wellington St, Hamilton East, in September where they found a critically injured woman.
She later died of her injuries in Waikato Hospital.
The man initially faced a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, before that was upgraded to murder.
The accused also faces a second charge of injuring with intent which relates to an alleged incident in April this year involving the same victim.
