Crazed chimp shot by US police

A 13-stone pet chimpanzee was shot dead after it mauled a woman and trapped a policeman in his patrol car.

The woman, who had been visiting the chimp's owner in Connecticut, was taken to hospital in a "very serious" condition. Stamford police captain Richard Conklin said she suffered "a tremendous loss of blood" from facial injuries.

The chimp, named Travis, attacked the woman as she got out of her car to visit Sandra Herold, who "retrieved a large butcher knife and stabbed her longtime pet numerous times". Travis then chased several police officers. After the chimp opened the door to one cruiser, a trapped policeman shot the animal.

Travis appeared on TV commercials for Coca-Cola when he was younger.