Killer poses on Facebook in plea for pals while in jail

William McArdle, 25, who brutally stabbed Billy McPhee with a “Rambo-like sword”, was sentenced to life with a recommendation that he serve a minimum of 22 years.

Today, the Evening News pictures the cold killer for the first time as he poses topless in one shot on Facebook.

In his latest message on the social networking website, he asks people to “write ti me in saughton, care o her majestys service, ta ta for now”.

McArdle asked a friend to update his status for him as he was already behind bars for stabbing traveller Mr McPhee to death following a brawl over a bar of chocolate.

Writing online, his friend explained: “Bboy is in the jail lol... he asked my mum to write the posts up for him”.

Today, Mr McPhee’s grieving widow, Roseanne, blasted the “lighthearted” chatter on his Facebook page and branded McArdle a “sicko”.

Just days before the brutal murder, McArdle hinted that he was looking for a new start, telling his friends: “Happy new year and let that one sin be forgotten.”

He was jailed along with his girlfriend at the time, Chanelle Barrett, 19, who got nine years for assaulting Mr McPhee and attempting to murder his best friend, Colin Stewart, 41.

The pair had been drinking with Barrett when they started arguing after she complained they had not bought her a big enough bar of chocolate when they stopped off at a shop for snacks. Barrett called McArdle and the row turned violent with both men being stabbed several times.

Mr Mcphee was left dying in a pool of blood on a flat landing at Castleview House in Gilmerton.

Today, the relationship between McArdle and Barrett was described on Facebook as “complicated”. Mrs McPhee, who has terminal cancer, said she was planning to demand a face-to-face meeting with McArdle to “find out what was going on in his head”.

She said: “I think this is terrible, it’s sick. He didn’t show any emotion in court and now he’s making light of the fact he’s in jail. He is in prison with his TV and computer games, and can get his pals to post up messages in Facebook.

“I’ve been left without my husband, and his two kids are left without a dad.

“If this guy wants somebody to write to him, I am going to write him a letter to find out what was going on in his head that night.

“I want to meet him face-to-face. There should be no fun or lighthearted attitude here. What is he playing at? He murdered my man.”

Mr McPhee was killed on January 11 this year. His friend Mr Stewart was rushed to the ERI with stab injuries.

Mrs McPhee said she was finally able to grieve after the pair were sentenced earlier this week.

She plans to scatter her husband’s ashes at their favourite spot in Aberdeen.