I am sure there are many people in your life, as there are in mine, who you don't much care for. They might be described as a bit of a tit and some might even be family members or ex-boyfriends. You just put up with them, however, if they were convicted of murder, you may feel vindicated in your dislike and verbalise it if asked to do so.
You say 'generosity' others may view it differently 'buying friends' 'showing off' .......... just depends on where you sit in the argument. The difference between us and the people mentioned here, is that they knew him and there doesn't seem many who are prepared to come to his defence - I think that speaks volumes about the kind of person he was/is.
But how much time do you need to spend in someone's company until you realise he/she is a bit of a "tit" and that you dislike him/her? Most of us have to tolerate irritating others for some of the time but it's usually tolerable as time spent with the individual is limited in terms of connectedness and duration. One can usually choose who one socialises with, lives with and has sex with.
If we take Liz Rimmington (LR) as an example. LR was manageress at Sloppy Joes when JB was working there during 1983. At the time she was in a relationship with co-owner of Sloppy Joes, Malcolm Waters. The pair shared a house with the other co-owner Michael Deckers and JB. LR arranged a dinner date between JM, a close friend, and JB with the idea of pairing them up as a couple. Success on a plate! At some stage thereafter LR had sex with JB.
LR was effectively JB's boss. She was the manageress. JB a barman/waiter. They worked together. Lived together in a shared house. Shagged together. She even accepted a lift off JB AFTER she was 'told' by JM that JB had a helping hand in the murders! At what point did she decide he was a bit of a "tit" and she disliked him?
Sloppy Joes was a small eatery owned by those who run the place. If JB was a bit of "tit" why employ him in a customer facing role? Why have him live-in with the owners/manageress? Why set up a date between a close friend/co-worker? And why would you have sex with someone you thought was a bit of a "tit" and disliked unless you were desperate for a shag and/or seriously sad!?
If people were using JB for freebies: lifts, meals out, cannabis whilst at the same time finding him a bit of a "tit" and disliking him it perhaps says more about them than JB.
The lay prosecution witnesses all appear to have gained something as a result of JB's conviction either financially or immunity against prosecution. I believe the police used the drug angle on JM, LR, SB, JR, MM and CB.
I'm afraid I struggle to take these people seriously.