A father-of-two accused of murdering his older brother shortly after Christmas is now facing an alternative charge of manslaughter.

Carl Eldred was due to enter pleas to both charges on Monday but the hearing was adjourned as a full pathology report was not available.

His brother Lee Eldred, 36, died from a traumatic blow to the side of the head after they were said to have argued in a taxi mini-bus on the A26 near Hadlow Manor Hotel on Friday, December 28.

Mr Eldred, from Tonbridge, was pronounced dead at the roadside.

His brother, of Little Footway, Langton Green, Tunbridge Wells, was arrested at the scene.

Pleas were not entered at Maidstone Crown Court at the request of Eldred’s lawyer Danny Moore.

The 33-year-old, who runs a panel beating business, will now do so on April 5. He was remanded in custody

Mr Moore said at a previous hearing: “It is a real tragedy in many senses of the word. It is a highly unusual case. These two men were very close indeed.”