The first death used to create his first Horcrux was still his decision, as it occurred before any damage to his soul done through the process of creating Horcruxes. He also enjoyed torturing and tormenting people all the way back into his childhood, well before he became a wizard in full. The circumstances of his birth could well be a mitigating circumstance of some kind, but regardless he still made evil decisions and performed evil acts throughout his life. He is definitely evil insofar as we commonly reckon evil.