The appearance was viewed by a judge and lawyers in a courtroom in Lower Manhattan.
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Prosecutors told the judge that Simon Martial, 61, confessed to the Saturday shoving death of Michelle Go, 40.
Prosecutors said they are still investigating to determine if this incident was a bias crime.
But when challenged by Martial's defense attorney to turn over any evidence of bias, prosecutors said they did not have any.
The judge ordered Martial to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
Toward the end of the arraignment, Martial appeared to go on an indecipherable rant.
The judge said, I understand you would like to go to a psychiatric facility, but I'm not going to permit that until after the psychiatric exam.
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Defense lawyers reserved the right to put in a bail application.
Martial was ordered to return to court on February 23.
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