WT is sly with its choice of terms! "Irregular" immediately brings to mind "something not right". How nicely that serves to distance WT from the alleged murderer in their midst!
Is the man a JW or isn't he? If he was ever baptized as a JW, sure he is! Even if he were to be DF'd he'd still be a "DF'd JW". Once a dub, always a dub as far as WT sees it; always under their "authority".
Is there a difference between "JW" and "Publisher"? Yes. If a person participates in the public ministry (in any form: letter writing, phone calls, "incidental" witnessing, door-to-door, etc.), and is in approved status in the congregation, that person is a "Publisher". Note: even if that person doesn't "publish" he or she is still a "JW".
Say what they may, he's their guy. It's going to be interesting to watch how they backpedal to avoid any bad press on this matter.