Mohamed Mire said that his brother Muhaydin, who appeared in court yesterday, suffered from paranoia and hallucinations made worse by drug use, but that he was judged as no threat to the public.
"Drugs influenced him, just cannabis," he told Channel 4 News.
"It gave him mental problem. He was diagnosed by doctors and treated in 2007 for paranoia. He was in hospital for three months in 2007."
"That started in August of this year. He started calling me up and saying odd things.
"Not radical, it's a bit like jumping around talking nonsense and sort of like talking saying he's seeing demons and stuff, people following him.
"We tried to call the local authority, they could not help him because they said he's no harm to people and he's no harm to himself.
"I talked to the police and they came and looked at him and that was 22 October."
"I decided to book a ticket for him on this Sunday. He was okay as far as I know," said the brother. "He wanted to go."
During Monday's brief hearing, Mire spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address and was remanded in custody until Friday when he will again appear at the Old Bailey in London.
Prosecutors allege that Mire punched his victim to the ground and repeatedly kicked him before taking hold of the victim's head and cutting a 12-centimetre wound in his neck.
Prosecutors also allege that images and flags associated with Islamic State jihadists were subsequently found on Mire's mobile phone.
