THREE men set an old man alight in a veld on Sunday night and then raped his elderly wife next to the burning body. Northern Province police said James Chauke, 59, and his 56-year-old wife were confronted at about 9pm on a footpath in Tshamahanza village in Mokopane near Potgietersrus. The assailants beat Mr Chauke to the ground, then set him alight before taking turns to rape Mrs Chauke. Villagers who saw the fire arrived at the scene to find Mrs Chauke lying next to the charred remains of her husband. The murderers had b that stage fled the scene on foot. Mrs Chauke was treated at a local hospital for her physical injuries, then discharged. Police were unable to say whether she would receive trauma counselling.