killed has a conotation, but it's still something he did not something he is.

Bob killed, in self defense. vs Bob killed, ted as part of a murderous rampage. Or even.

Bob stood hatchet in hand over the chicken and hesitated.

Bob Killed.

Where Bob is a killer becomes harder to place into an interesting story.

Ah. Then to fit in E-Prime, I believe you'd have to state what Bob was doing as a killer.

The killer Bob <verb:[lived sat stood munched ...]>.

Yep,

The killer Bob __ is far more interesting as a witting style than Bob is a killer who _