Magento: how to use removeItem for plugin added js files

I have a third party extension adding JS via an observer:

<?php
class Anowave_Owl_Model_Observer extends Mage_Core_Model_Abstract
{
    public function dispatch(Varien_Event_Observer $observer)
    {
        if (Mage::app()->getLayout()->getBlock('owl') && Mage::app()->getLayout()->getBlock('owl')->getSlider())
        {
            $format = Mage::app()->getLayout()->getBlock('owl')->getFormat();

            if ($format instanceof Anowave_Owl_Block_Format)
            {
                $format->addCss()->addJs();
            }
        }

        return $this;
    }
}

      

        
        
        
      

    

Where addJs is defined in a block class as:

public function addJs()
{
    $script = 'js/jquery-1.11.0.min.js';
    Mage::app()->getLayout()->getBlock('head')->addItem('skin_js', $script);
 }

      

        
        
        
      

    

Instead of hacking the module, I am trying to remove the loaded jquery via removeItem ie

   <default>
     <reference name="head">
        <action method="removeItem">
            <type>skin_js</type>
            <name>js/jquery-1.11.0.min.js</name>
        </action>
    </reference>
   </default>  

      

        
        
        
      

    

In local.xml. But it doesn't work. (This JS file is still being printed in the script tag in the head). i.e.

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://mydomain.local/skin/frontend/base/default/js/jquery-1.11.0.min.js"></script>

      

        
        
        
      

    

I know my syntax and path are correct because I can dump / delete other JS files this way in the same folder (the ones given in their XML extension). I thought local.xml was processed after all other layout registration steps, but I don't think (?) So I don't think removeItem in layout is an option. I would like to use

        Mage::app()->getLayout()->getBlock('head')->removeItem('skin_js', $script);

      

        
        
        
      

    

In a custom module, but how would I know if all previous addJS () processing has finished executing?

Any ideas or solutions are appreciated!