I think if he was starting out today, they’d call Richard Pryor an “Uncle Tom.”
I have some pretty unconventional ideas about evil especially murderers.
I believe that Man is the highest of God’s creations. Whatever time we have on earth is a chance to be almost like God in that we can have our own children, learn the difference between good and evil and make our own decisions. If someone cuts our time short then they take away from that person part of that opportunity which may include becoming a follower of The Savior.
I believe there is a very special place in Hell for Murders and I doubt there will be any murders in Heaven. How can you repent of taking a life short of giving yours to get it back and we can’t do that.
No matter how nice a murderer is, he is still a murderer.