Amir Khan apologises to victim’s family after FaceTiming killer in jail and telling him to ‘keep your chin up’
Khan, 31, FaceTimed Philip Merry, who is serving eight years for manslaughter over the death of dad-of-five Steve McKinnon, 44, in a pub fight
BOXER Amir Khan has tonight apologised to a widow after he chatted to one of her husband's killers in jail — telling him: "Keep your chin up"
The Sun had revealed Khan, 31, made a video call to Philip Merry, who is serving eight years for manslaughter.
Merry and two others were convicted over the death of dad-of-five Steve McKinnon, 44, in a pub fight.
The lag boasted about his FaceTime chat with Khan on his secret Instagram page — which shows him in a cell with a pal while former world champ Amir gives him a thumbs up.
Merry, 31, posted: “When Amir Khan Facetimes you to say ‘Keep your chin up bro’ Big love bro”.
Last night Steve’s widow Clare, 44, pictured, said: “Amir Khan is meant to be a role model. It’s disgusting he would back someone like Merry.
“He should be round here telling me to keep my chin up after what I’ve been through.
“Merry is meant to be in prison serving his punishment, not getting morale-boosting messages from the likes of Khan. How’s Merry even got a phone in prison?”
But in a statement posted online tonight Khan said he did not realise who the lag was — and said sorry to the McKinnon family.
He wrote: "I am approached on a daily basis by fans wanting an autograph, picture or to speak to a member of their family or friend via mobile phone.
"Being the type of person that I am, I oblige to do so in order to try and keep my fans happy.
"Although I speak to many different people I'm not always made aware of their circumstances, contrary to what they may say.
"This was one of them times and as such my kindness has been taken advantage of.
"I most certainly would not send out msgs of encouragement or morale boosting msgs to anyone who had done such a thing.
"I can only apologise to the family of Steve McKinnon and hope that they understand."
The statement added: "I appreciate the anger and upset this will have caused the family and would like them to know that my thoughts are with Clare McKinnon and the rest of the McKinnon family."
When The Sun approached the Ministry of Justice for comment last night it said: “This behaviour is unacceptable and we have had this account taken down.”
Campaigner Harry Fletcher, who runs The Victims' Rights Campaign, said earlier: “This appears to be extraordinary poor judgment by Amir Khan.”
Merry, Eugene Bell, 32, and Gurdev Sangha, 26, set about grandad Steve in Leicester in 2015.
Steve intervened when two of the group launched an unprovoked attack on his stepson.
He suffered a significant brain injury and died two days later.
In 2016, Bell got ten years for manslaughter and Sangha eight years.
Any prisoner who uses a mobile phone behind bars faces up to an additional two years in prison.
And any person taking part in a call from a lag who has an illicit mobile phone can also be punished.
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Last night a spokesman for Khan said: “We can confirm that Amir was provided with a mobile phone from a fan and asked to speak to his friend (something that occurs frequently).
“There was no prior notice that his friend was in prison or had been convicted of such a serious crime.
“To Amir’s knowledge, he has never intentionally used his mobile telephone to FaceTime anyone in prison.”
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