Carl Eldred, 33, from Tunbridge Wells confirmed his name, date of birth and nationality.
He was further remanded and will appear before the same court to enter a plea on January 28.
Judge David Griffith-Jones has set a provisional trial date for June 10. Bail was refused and an inquest was opened today.
A father-of-two, from Little Footway in Langton Green, has been charged with murdering his older brother Lee Eldred.
The court heard that the 36-year-old from Tonbridge died from ‘a traumatic blow to the side of the head near the left ear’.
They are alleged to have had an argument in a taxi on the A26 near Hadlow Manor Hotel on Friday, December 28.
Carl Eldred, who runs the Rocket Re-finishing panel-beating business in Plaxtol, appearing by video link from Elmley Prison.
The brothers’ father Trevor and Carl Eldred’s wife were among the family members who attended the court proceedings.
Danny Moore, defending, said: “It is a real tragedy in many senses of the word. It is a highly unusual case. These two men were very close indeed.”
They were returning from a night out with friends and family. The coroner’s office said Lee Eldred became unresponsive and CPR was carried out.
Police and paramedics were called and attempts to revive him continued but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The post-mortem concluded he died from a traumatic brain injury.
