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?”
The Ministry of Justice said: “This behaviour is unacceptable and we have had this account taken down.” Campaigner Harry Fletcher, who runs Voice 4 Victims, said: “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.
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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