Kate McCann is 'a cold actress', claims embittered police chief sacked from Madeleine investigation

The disgraced head of the Madeleine McCann investigation called distraught mother Kate McCann a 'cold actress', it has been claimed.

Goncalo Amaral accused Mrs McCann, 40, of controlling her emotions, the Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported.

He told a journalist: 'You didn't see the mother, you don't know the mother, she is cold, she is astute, she is an actress.'

Mrs McCann, a GP, faced widespread criticism over claims she did not weep for her missing daughter Madeleine.

It later emerged she was advised by British police not to display emotion as an abductor could derive some sick pleasure from watching her suffer.

Amaral, 48, was sacked from the Madeleine investigation after he launched an astonishing attack against British police, accusing them of only investigating leads which helped the McCanns.

He is facing trial over claims he covered up the alleged torture of a mother of another missing girl, who vanished from the village of Figueira, some 30 miles from Praia da Luz.

It also emerged today that police are investigating a death threat made against Mr and Mrs McCann.

They have passed on details of hate mail - including the threat - to detectives after it was delivered to their home in Rothley, Leicestershire.

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Their spokesman Clarence Mitchell confirmed today: "Kate and Gerry still get armfuls of mail every day and it is all read.

"The vast majority is supportive, or at least polite, but very occasionally there is something nasty.

"On two occasions we have had to refer it to the police but I don't want to go into any detail about that."

He said one, however, was a threat against their lives.

Kate and Gerry are preparing to be thrust back under the spotlight, with next weekend marking a full year since Madeleine's disappearance.

Mr Mitchell said: "They recognise it is an opportunity to re-energise the search for Madeleine."

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Some members of the missing four-year-old's family are set to fly to the coastal resort to mark the anniversary in Saturday but Mr and Mrs McCann will remain at their home.

Her uncle and aunt John McCann and Trisha Cameron are expected at a special church service in Praia da Luz.

But the Anglican chaplain Father Haynes Hubbard, who will conduct prayers, confirmed her parents had decided against attending on Saturday.

Father Hubbard said: "This was an act of violence and an act of evil but we will continue praying for her."

The missing child's parents,who have participated in an ITV documentary to be broadcast on Wednesday, are officially suspects in the Portuguese investigation but deny any wrongdoing. Mr Mitchell said the couple may write a book about their daughter and their year.

He said: "The idea of writing an official book at some point is appealing. It's a legitimate way of raising money for the fund but would also give them a chance to put across their side of the story, and to talk about some of the wider issues."

Scott Pack, a former head of buying for Waterstone's, said the McCanns' book would fall into the category of "misery memoir".

He said: "It's bound to go for a decent amount and I think you're talking of at least £500,000. It could go for a million.

"It has the potential to be of enormous interest with buyers across the market - from the little middle-class audience who think, 'This could have been us' to the mass market who buy books in supermarkets and have been devouring this story for a year."