"she won't be terribly credible"
If this is a bench trial (misdemeanor?), she doesn't have to be credible; only the judge has to believe her, and (like the judge in DC ) his mind may already be made up--the driver is guilty.
So, no matter how many pretty and legal-sounding words he may couch it in, the fix will still be in.
The FBI should be on this by now--should have been in Durham 4 months ago. Where are they?
Sadly, I remember a few months ago AG Gonzales saying they preferred to let the Justice System run it's course before becoming involved.
Mostafa is entitled to a jury trial even in the People's Republic of Durham.
I don't know why the defense hasn't filed in fed court yet, except that it may be a timing issue pertaining to discovery and the filing of subsequent motions that should be exhausted on some issues before filing in fed court.