My items have unique id's. I am deleting one by filtering the model with angulars $filter
service:
var myModel = [{id:12345, ...},{},{},...,{}];
...
// working within the item
function doSthWithItem(item){
...
myModel = $filter('filter')(myModel, function(value, index)
{return value.id !== item.id;}
);
}
As id you could also use the $$hashKey property of your model items: $$hashKey:"object:91"