Status	Trial Outcome	Sentence	Appeal Outcome
Innocent	Not convicted / found not guilty	No sentence	Appeal not needed (or any wrongful conviction can be overturned)
Guilty	Convicted / found guilty	Sentenced according to law	Appeal possible, but will be rejected if evidence confirms guilt
Convicted but actually innocent	Wrongful conviction	Sentenced incorrectly	Appeal can overturn conviction if evidence proves innocence
Denied appeal	Conviction upheld	Sentence enforced	Often because guilt confirmed or appeal lacked merit

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Key Takeaways

• Innocent → no sentence. Appeals may still occur to clear record, but courts recognize innocence.
• Guilty → sentenced. Appeals only succeed if there’s a legal error or new evidence.
• Appeals don’t get “thrown out” because someone is innocent; they get rejected if the court finds the conviction or sentence was valid.
• Courts separate factual guilt from procedural correctness.