EXCLUSIVE
The family of one of the victims in the Aaron Hernandez double murder case says they will still root for the Patriots ... and will not hold Aaron's heinous crimes against the NFL team.
We spoke with Susan Vincente ... cousin of Safiro Furtado, one of the two people killed in a drive-by shooting outside a Boston-area nightclub back in 2013. Hernandez is the prime suspect.
"He needs to be brought to justice," Susan says ... "My cousin never had an enemy. He was calm and loving."
Susan says Safiro's mother is still devastated over the death of her son -- "It's still an open wound. It's been tough for her since day 1."
Officials say Hernandez plotted the attack because someone in Furtado's party accidentally spilled a drink on the former NFL star inside the club. Hernandez has been charged with murder and his trial is expected to begin later this year.
But when it comes to the Patriots, Susan says she does NOT hold anyone in the organization responsible for the murder -- "I'm still a Patriots fan. [Aaron] was just one person."