Courtesy of Madison.com:

A judge today signed a material witness warrant for a man whose testimony prosecutors say is needed to provide critical evidence against the alleged triggerman in a June shooting death during a burglary on Tempe Drive.

Artis L. Furlow, 29, failed to appear as a subpoenaed witness at a preliminary hearing this morning for Amir "Buck" Furlow, 19, who is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and armed burglary in the death of Marcus T. Hamilton. According to court testimony, Artis Furlow and Amir Furlow are cousins.

According to online court records, a bench warrant for Artis Furlow also was issued Monday after he failed to appear at a plea and sentencing hearing on a criminal traffic charge of operating without a valid license.

Assistant District Attorney Shelly Rusch identified Artis Furlow as a confidential witness referred to in the criminal complaint against Amir Furlow.

According to the complaint, a confidential witness heard Amir Furlow and Brown recount the details of the robbery and shooting.

Rusch said a material witness warrant is "an extreme measure" used only when a judge determines the presence of a witness is "necessary and critical."

Hamilton, 30, was fatally shot during a robbery shortly before 10:30 p.m. June 29 in his Tempe Drive home. Four children were in the home at the time of the shooting.

Amir Furlow was arrested in Chicago on July 21 and is being held in Dane County Jail on $500,000 bail. Police are still looking for Promethius "Slim" Brown, 19, Furlow's alleged accomplice, wanted on a warrant for felony murder and armed burglary.

Dane County Circuit Judge John Albert signed the material witness warrant for Artis Furlow after granting a continuance following testimony by two witnesses in the preliminary hearing, where prosecutors must present sufficient evidence for Amir Furlow to stand trial.

Madison police Det. David Parrell testified that he had spoke to Artis Furlow by phone twice since Tuesday.

Rusch later said that Artis Furlow had said he would be present to testify at the preliminary hearing.

Christine Jones, 36, testified that Amir Furlow and Promethius Brown came to her home on Hammersley Drive at about 10:30 or 11 p.m. the night of the shooting and went directly to the basement. She said Amir Furlow's cousin, Artis Furlow, a friend of hers who had been staying at her home, was in the basement at the time.

"They rushed in like they had to go to the bathroom or something," Jones said, adding that Amir Furlow appeared to be holding his crotch.

Jones said both were wearing hooded sweatshirts, which she thought were black, with the hoods up on their heads.