The sleek, marble district courthouse in Saipan could be anywhere in the United States, but for the officials who welcomed us in their bright, flowery shirts. Warm ocean breezes coming off the Pacific rustled the leaves of the flame trees whose flowers blaze against soft green grass.

It was the most unlikely venue to witness the end of the long and bitter saga of Julian Assange.

It had been chosen by Assange as the US territory farthest from the US mainland, from the power centres in Washington against which he had waged so many of his campaigns.

Lying 2,500km (1,550 miles) east of the Philippines, Saipan is on the way to nowhere.

Except, perhaps, Australia.