But Thomas Robins, 23, still faces charges of negligent driving causing death and drink driving.

Kyall Green, 22, was fatally injured when the ute in which he was a passenger rolled at the intersection of Cannan Crescent and Constance Stone Street, Macgregor, on January 20 last year.

He died the following afternoon.

An ACT Supreme Court jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding Robins, the driver of the ute, not guilty of culpable driving causing death.

Robins was backed throughout the two-day trial by a large contingent of supporters, including Mr Green's family. The group cheered and clapped, and Robins broke down in tears as the jury delivered the not guilty verdict on Tuesday morning.

Outside the court, defence lawyer Kamy Saeedi said the families and friends of both Mr Green and Robins had expressed relief at the verdict.

''Both families hope they can now put the tragedy behind them,'' Mr Saeedi said.

The crime of culpable driving causing death is the highest charge for driving offences, carrying a maximum of 14 years' jail.

''The courts have held that culpable driving is the equivalent of manslaughter and reserved for cases where the degree of neglect is gross, gross negligence,'' Mr Saeedi said.

''On the jury's verdict, it was clear the community did not agree with the allegation against Mr Robins.''

During the trial, jurors heard Robins and Mr Green had been part of a group of four men driving from a party to the accused man's Macgregor home about 12.45am.

Robins drove the utility, with Mr Green in the passenger seat, and two men in the tray.

Mr Green had been hanging out of the window to take photos of the men riding in the tray when the ute rolled, and he was crushed.

The Crown alleged the accident was caused by a combination of Robins' intoxication and being distracted by his passengers.

But defence barrister James Lawton argued Robins' actions did not match the definition of culpable driving, which required jurors to find he, to a gross degree, failed to take the standard of care a reasonable person would have observed in the same circumstances.

Justice John Burns acquitted Robins on Tuesday.

Robins has pleaded not guilty to the remaining charges in the ACT Magistrates Court. They will be heard later this year.