Hernandez Cousin Sentenced to Probation

The cousin of ex-New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez pleaded guilty to contempt of court in connection with a 2012 double murder in South Boston.

The cousin of former Patriots star Aaron Hernandez was sentenced to two years probation after changing her plea to guilty on charges of contempt of court in connection with a murder investigation.

Tanya Singleton, 38, is accused of refusing to testify during the investigation of the shooting deaths of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado, who were both shot to death in July 2012 while they were stopped at a red light as they left the Cure Lounge in Boston's Theatre District.

Hernandez is tentatively set to stand trial on murder charges of the two men in May 2015.

Singleton will not serve hard time.

An attorney for Singleton says she has Stage 4 breast cancer, which has spread to her lymph nodes, bones, chest and liver. The illness is terminal, according to Singleton's doctor in court paperwork.

She was on oxygen and speaking softly in court on Tuesday as she pleaded guilty, listing off her medications and answering the judge's questions.

Singleton's attorney asked for two years of probation, followed by one year of home confinement, saying Singleton would not get appropriate care in jail.

Prosecutors say despite immunity, Singleton refused to answer any questions before the Suffolk County Grand Jury. The state recommended two and a half years in jail as a maximum sentence, saying that Singleton's breast cancer is not an excuse for not getting hard jail time.

"She made deliberate choices and those choices must have consequences," the state prosecutor said. "She ultimately chose loyalty to her cousin over the well-being of her own children."

Singleton was charged with contempt by Bristol County in the case in which Hernandez is charged with the 2013 first-degree murder of North Attleboro, Massachusetts, semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd. She pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to two years of probation with GPS monitoring.

Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to killing Lloyd and is being held without bail.

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