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A businessman, who killed his brother after punching him during a drunken Christmas meal, has been jailed for four years.
Carl Eldred, 33, hit younger brother Lee three times after the two fell out on the way home from drinking in two West Malling pubs.
But a judge heard that one of the punches may have severed an artery in Lee's neck, leading to bleeding on the brain.
His barrister Oliver Saxby QC said: “This could have happened 100 times and on 99 occasions it wouldn’t have ended in death or serious injury.”
Judge Adele Williams told Maidstone Crown Court: “This is a truly tragic case. No-one is suggesting that you killed him deliberately.”
Carl, of Little Footway, Langton Green, Tunbridge Wells, was originally charged with murder but the charge was left on the file after he admitted manslaughter.
The tragedy happened after Lee, from Tonbridge and Carl argued in a taxi mini-bus on the A26 near Hadlow Manor Hotel on Friday, December 28.
The brothers, their father, Trevor, and three friends had been drinking in two pubs and were returning home.
The judge said: “Both of you had had a considerable quantity to drink and in the minibus you were laughing and joking.”
Bricklayer Lee who was sat in front of his brother then became involved in an argument and Carl punched him in the back of the neck several times.
As their father tried to intervene, Carl struck him in the face after getting angry “out of nowhere”, the court heard.
Lee sustained a traumatic head injury and collapsed immediately and although others used CPR he died.
Carl said: “Oh my god what have I done? I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
Prosecutor Richard Barraclough QC said initially Carl couldn’t believe his brother had died.
But Judge Williams said the amount of alcohol he had consumed had “swept away his inhibitions".
“It then unleashed this violence, which was out of character.
"You punched your brother, not once but several times while he was not in position to defend himself while he was drunk.
“Your actions have had devastating consequences although I accept that you expressed immediate and sincere remorse.”
Carl was described by family and friends as kind, caring and sensible.
Detective Inspector Matt Banks, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "This was a tragic event for a family following a social night out.
"Carl Eldred failed to consider the risks when he punched his brother and is now paying for the consequences with a jail sentence.
"This should serve as a reminder to anybody involved in an argument that the use of any physical force should always be avoided.
"It could result in significant harm for a victim and a considerable prison sentence for those responsible."
