Joshua Phillips charged with attacking pro driver Chris Pappas in Mermaid Waters home invasion

A man has been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged attack on racing car driver Chris Pappas at his Gold Coast home, leaving him in a serious condition.

A man has been charged in connection with an alleged horror attack on racing car driver Chris Pappas at his Gold Coast home.

Mr Pappas was allegedly stabbed and struck several times with a hammer during a home invasion at his Mermaid Waters residence in the early hours of August 13.

He was rushed to hospital in a serious condition.

It was reported that Mr Pappas was at home with his partner Krystle Earsman at the time.

He was said to have wrestled with the alleged intruders before his sister, who lived next door, heard screams and called police.

Chris Pappas was allegedly stabbed and attacked with a hammer at his Mermaid Waters home.

Joshua Timothy James Phillips, of Tweed Heads, has since been charged with unlawful wounding, acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, and enter dwelling and commit.

He faces a further unrelated charge of affray.

The 31-year-old did not appear in person or make an application for bail when his case was mentioned in Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Solicitor Danielle Heable, of Dib and Associates, asked for an adjournment to next week so a brief of evidence could be ordered as soon as possible.

Chris Pappas. Picture Facebook

Ms Heable said the initial police material referred to DNA evidence, which was currently taking nine to 12 months to obtain.

Mr Phillips’ case will return to court on October 10.

A Queensland Police spokesman said investigations were ongoing and no other charges had been laid.

Police were last month probing potential links between the alleged attack on Mr Pappas and the reported firebombing of Ms Earsman’s Mermaid Beach salon HSK Hair.

HSK Hair salon on the Gold Coast Highway posted this after a fire tore through the premises.

It was alleged three men pulled up in a white Mitsubishi AZX and smashed the glass front door of the salon, dousing the premises with an accelerant before setting it alight.

A police spokesman said there were no suspects at this stage. There is no suggestion Mr Phillips was involved.

Mr Pappas was one of several men charged in connection with an alleged multimillion-dollar boiler room fraud scheme, previously suspected of selling false betting products or services.

Charges were dropped after he and his co-accused – including Jack Doumani, his son John and Daniel Kenneth Seymour – were granted permanent stays in Southport District Court. None of their cases were formally listed for trial.

The muscle car racer also made headlines when he was involved in a fiery high-speed crash in a $330,000 McLaren supercar at Bundall in 2022.

It was reported at the time that he and his female passenger were lucky to escape with minor injuries after being pulled from the burning wreckage.

Originally published as Joshua Phillips charged with attacking pro driver Chris Pappas in Mermaid Waters home invasion