Such rebuffs don't come into it. Like anyone normal and innocent ( he'd have seriously thought it was a joke being accused when he knew in his own mind that they were wrong ) It wasn't a way of lying-----far from it, he'd let them prattle on giving chapter and verse, I'd have probably sat filing my nails, as you do when you think that someone is going to end up with egg on their face. It's little wonder that EP wanted revenge,which it was !! Nothing else.
Had I been left with one family member out of 5 dead, I would have at least got him to one side and thoroughly questioned him myself before accusing him outright without any proof like they did. They were disgusting and showed their contempt towards him from day one !
In what way ?
OK. I think you present him as being the way you seem to think fits with a given situation, as opposed to looking at the bigger picture. I'm fairly confident that a blanket term of -forgive the vulgarity- "cocksure" would have described him particularly well, and I don't believe I could find anyone who knew him who'd disagree with me.
You've turned him from wuss to super wuss -so naive, so trusting, had no idea that the world was a big, bad place. Yet, you've spoken, with some pride, about his arrogant behaviour, but it doesn't equate with Little Lord Fauntleroy. You speak of how he loved the farm but seem unable to see that he'd probably have sold his soul to get out of going back there. Trouble was there were no more funds from the Bank of Mum and Dad and as hard work was never very high on his agenda, his options were limited. Again, I can only say that those who knew him wouldn't recognize the personalities you attribute to him -that you are SO certain, despite never having met him, describe who you believe he is. It feels rather like a mother who, whilst she's fully aware that her child's numerous bad traits could be problematic, makes excuses for his behaviours, and forgives him because she loves him.
I will just add that whilst my assessment of his character doesn't make him guilty, your own doesn't make him innocent.