Former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez has been found guilty of first-degree murder over the fatal shooting of his friend. Relatives of the victim wept in the Massachusetts courthouse as the verdict was announced on live television. Hernandez was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He was arrested in 2013 and charged with killing Odin Lloyd, a semi-pro player found near his home. Lloyd, who was dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancée, was found dead with six bullet wounds. At the time, Hernandez had a contract worth $40m (£27m). But within hours of his arrest, the Patriots sacked Hernandez, considered one of the top tight ends playing the game. Hernandez is not an isolated case. National Football League (NFL) players have been charged with any number of crimes over the years, from rape to dog-fighting.